EC keen to provide support to shipbuilding in Bangladesh
Monday, 2 June 2008
CHITTAGONG, June 1 (UNB): The European Commi-ssion (EC) has shown keen interest to provide support to the shipbuilding companies in Bangladesh to gain a strong foothold in shipbuilding market globally.
"Shipbuilding industry has potential to earn billions and to bring benefits both to the people of Bangladesh and the European Union," said Dr Stefan Frowein, the Head of the Delegation of European Commission (EC) in Bangladesh.
Dr Frowein was visiting the Western Marine Shipyard Limited here today (Sunday) to get an insight into the shipbuilding capabilities of the country's leading shipbuilding company.
During the visit, Western Marine officials apprised the Ambassador of the progress of the ongoing projects and Frowein expressed satisfaction over the activities of the shipyard.
Assuring steadfast support of EC, Dr Frowein urged the shipbuilding companies to go "full steam ahead" with the shipbuilding business as the three companies based in Bangladesh had captured significant orders from Europe in recent months.
"It is particularly apposite that a country, which has become renowned for ship-breaking, should move into shipbuilding, creating an industrial 'cycle of life' with a certain poetic appeal," he said.
Chairman of Chittagong Port Authority Commodore M Farooque and President of Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry Saifuzzaman Chowdhury also accompanied Dr Frowein.
CPA chairman M Farooque sought assistance through the EC's 'quality support programme' to facilitate training human resources in-high-tech shipbuilding.
The CCCI president hoped that Dr Frowein's visit to the shipyard would help boost the Bangladesh shipbuilding industry and open a new frontier of exporting ships to Europe.
Chairman of Western Marine Saiful Islam sought assistance from the European Commission to develop skilled manpower through training and transfer of technology to boost the country's shipbuilding capabilities.
Western Marine, which made its mark in global shipbuilding market in February this year, has already received orders to build 18 oceangoing ships through which the country will earn US$180 million.
Of these, Denmark has ordered five ships, the Netherlands 12 and Singapore 1.
The shipyard on 15 acres of land near Shikalbaha Power Plant at Kolagaon union in Patiya Upazila has employed over 2,000 skilled and semi-skilled people, while another 10,000 are expected to get employment in the future.
Western Marine has received 'World Maritime Day Award 2007' in recognition of its contribution to shipbuilding industry in the country.
"Shipbuilding industry has potential to earn billions and to bring benefits both to the people of Bangladesh and the European Union," said Dr Stefan Frowein, the Head of the Delegation of European Commission (EC) in Bangladesh.
Dr Frowein was visiting the Western Marine Shipyard Limited here today (Sunday) to get an insight into the shipbuilding capabilities of the country's leading shipbuilding company.
During the visit, Western Marine officials apprised the Ambassador of the progress of the ongoing projects and Frowein expressed satisfaction over the activities of the shipyard.
Assuring steadfast support of EC, Dr Frowein urged the shipbuilding companies to go "full steam ahead" with the shipbuilding business as the three companies based in Bangladesh had captured significant orders from Europe in recent months.
"It is particularly apposite that a country, which has become renowned for ship-breaking, should move into shipbuilding, creating an industrial 'cycle of life' with a certain poetic appeal," he said.
Chairman of Chittagong Port Authority Commodore M Farooque and President of Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry Saifuzzaman Chowdhury also accompanied Dr Frowein.
CPA chairman M Farooque sought assistance through the EC's 'quality support programme' to facilitate training human resources in-high-tech shipbuilding.
The CCCI president hoped that Dr Frowein's visit to the shipyard would help boost the Bangladesh shipbuilding industry and open a new frontier of exporting ships to Europe.
Chairman of Western Marine Saiful Islam sought assistance from the European Commission to develop skilled manpower through training and transfer of technology to boost the country's shipbuilding capabilities.
Western Marine, which made its mark in global shipbuilding market in February this year, has already received orders to build 18 oceangoing ships through which the country will earn US$180 million.
Of these, Denmark has ordered five ships, the Netherlands 12 and Singapore 1.
The shipyard on 15 acres of land near Shikalbaha Power Plant at Kolagaon union in Patiya Upazila has employed over 2,000 skilled and semi-skilled people, while another 10,000 are expected to get employment in the future.
Western Marine has received 'World Maritime Day Award 2007' in recognition of its contribution to shipbuilding industry in the country.