Holcim celebrates cement export to Assam by river route
Wednesday, 29 August 2007
FE Report
Holcim, a leading cement manufacturing company, Monday celebrated its first cement export by river route to Assam Sunday.
The multinational cement company organised a programme on the occasion styled Holcim explores the unexplored at a city hotel Monday.
Sunil Kanti Bose, Chairman of the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) attended the ceremony as the Chief Guest while Sudhakar Dalila, Counselor of Indian High Commission, Commissioner of Dhaka Customs Rezaul Hasan, country representative of the IUCN Ainun Nishat attended the programme.
Managing Director of Holcim, PN Iyer at the programme said the company was the first cement company that achieved BIS (Bureau of Indian Standard) certificate for cement export to India in 2004 and since then, it has been successfully exporting cement to Northeastern part of India particularly to Tripura by road.
He also said the company is planning to export over 150,000 tonnes of cement worth around Tk 1.0 billion to north eastern regions of India each year.
In the recent past a series of bilateral discussion between both the Governments of Bangladesh and India have paved the way to utilise this potential river route which is cost effective.
Sources said in entire northeastern area of India, there is total demand of about 3.0 million tonnes of cement.
Iyer elaborated that Holcim has substantial clinker sources in Thailand, maintains captive shipping facility to transport clinker from Thailand to Bangladesh.
Sudakhar Dalila, Counselor of high Commission of India said this new riverine route should pave way for export of other items too to North Eastern part of India and should reduce the trade imbalance substantially.
Dr. Ainun Nishat shared his experiences by highlighting opportunities of various untapped riverine route and opined that this route between Dhaka and Guwahati would surely contribute to the Bangladesh economy a lot.
Ainun said this would create a win-win situation because local goods would cater to India's demand at large.
Rezaul Hasan, Commissioner of Custom, Dhaka South, and Moazzem Hossain, Secretary and head of protocol of this route outlined various elements of this new river route.
Sunil Kanti Bose, Chairman, BIWTA, in his Chief Guest's address said that this is the first time in history of Bangladesh was going to officially export cement through by river route to Guwahati, Assam.
Holcim, a leading cement manufacturing company, Monday celebrated its first cement export by river route to Assam Sunday.
The multinational cement company organised a programme on the occasion styled Holcim explores the unexplored at a city hotel Monday.
Sunil Kanti Bose, Chairman of the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) attended the ceremony as the Chief Guest while Sudhakar Dalila, Counselor of Indian High Commission, Commissioner of Dhaka Customs Rezaul Hasan, country representative of the IUCN Ainun Nishat attended the programme.
Managing Director of Holcim, PN Iyer at the programme said the company was the first cement company that achieved BIS (Bureau of Indian Standard) certificate for cement export to India in 2004 and since then, it has been successfully exporting cement to Northeastern part of India particularly to Tripura by road.
He also said the company is planning to export over 150,000 tonnes of cement worth around Tk 1.0 billion to north eastern regions of India each year.
In the recent past a series of bilateral discussion between both the Governments of Bangladesh and India have paved the way to utilise this potential river route which is cost effective.
Sources said in entire northeastern area of India, there is total demand of about 3.0 million tonnes of cement.
Iyer elaborated that Holcim has substantial clinker sources in Thailand, maintains captive shipping facility to transport clinker from Thailand to Bangladesh.
Sudakhar Dalila, Counselor of high Commission of India said this new riverine route should pave way for export of other items too to North Eastern part of India and should reduce the trade imbalance substantially.
Dr. Ainun Nishat shared his experiences by highlighting opportunities of various untapped riverine route and opined that this route between Dhaka and Guwahati would surely contribute to the Bangladesh economy a lot.
Ainun said this would create a win-win situation because local goods would cater to India's demand at large.
Rezaul Hasan, Commissioner of Custom, Dhaka South, and Moazzem Hossain, Secretary and head of protocol of this route outlined various elements of this new river route.
Sunil Kanti Bose, Chairman, BIWTA, in his Chief Guest's address said that this is the first time in history of Bangladesh was going to officially export cement through by river route to Guwahati, Assam.