Dutch-Danish consortium to bankroll Paira port construction

Two European countries have formed a consortium for funding and building Paira deep-sea port in Patuakhali district, officials said.
 The governments of the Netherlands and Denmark recently sent a copy of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) of the consortium to the ministry of shipping (MoS) in Dhaka with an interest in port development.
 Meanwhile, some ten companies, nine from China and one from Denmark, had submitted proposals to the MoS for constructing the deep-sea port.
 The companies include Guizhou No. 2 Electric Power Construction Company, China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd, China Railway Construction Corporation Ltd, Sinohydro Harbour Co Ltd, China Communications Construction Company Ltd, China National Complete Engineering Corporation, China CAMC Engineering Co Ltd, and Denmark-based APM Terminals.
 Two months back, a seven-member committee headed by joint secretary of Paira Port Authority (PPA) has short-listed names of four companies and sent the list to the MoS for selecting one from them and to sign MoU.
 However, officials said the ministry has yet to take any decision regarding the selection of a company and signing such deal for construction of the port.
 Officials said Danish company APM Terminals and Dutch BAM International have joined hands to form the consortium to which governments of the two countries have confirmed support.
 According to their memo, the consortium will provide the necessary funds for the Paira seaport. "It will establish the design, development and construction requirements, legal authority and permit requirements, the availability of Dutch and Danish government grants and other financial assistance and the required operation once the Pira Port is ready for operations."
 The memo also says APM Terminals is a leading international terminal operator, which has developed and operates 70 ports and container all over the world. On the other hand, the BAM International is a top construction company.
 Dutch development-bank FMO and the Danish Investment Fund for developing counties and the Danish export credit agency will provide financial and business-transaction advice for the construction of the port.
 The memo also noted that the members of the consortium are also interested to work with other international, regional and local parties for the port development deep in the waters of Bay of Bengal.
 Saidur Rahman, a Member of Paira Port Authority (PPA), told the FE that the government is considering the proposal of the consortium for the Paira Port development.
 "It's a good proposal for construction of the port," he said.
 An official at the MoS said presently, Paira Port is a government's priority project and thus the government has listed it as one of the fast- track projects to expedite its construction. It is also an election pledge of the government.
 He said the PPA recently appointed a British consultancy for conducting a feasibility study on Paira seaport, which may be completed in October next. A preliminary development project proposal (PDPP) is under preparation with the help of the consulting firm.
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