Some 42 projects worth more than US$14 billion under public- private partnership (PPP) are now in the pipeline for development and implementation, Syed Afsor H. Uddin, chief executive officer (CEO) of PPP Office said Monday.
"Most of them are at the implementation level. Some are still at evaluation level and awaiting appointment of consultants," he said while speaking at a discussion meeting.
Canadian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CanCham) organised the meeting at its office in the city.
CanCham President Masud Rahman gave introductory speech at the meeting in presence of the CanCham board members.
Syed Afsor H. Uddin said: "The PPP model will not be implemented in a short period of time. This is great challenge to make people understand that the PPP is not something to be executed in a day or two." "No country has done PPP implementation overnight as the process is quite lengthy."
He said PPP programmes require substantial policy and procedural reforms, capacity enhancement and clear regulatory mandate to ensure success.
"Sustained long-term policy commitment is vital to provide platform for delivery and success," he said.
He said a number of entrepreneurs are responding to PPP projects and their number is growing day by day.
Citing an example, he said around 25 entrepreneurs showed interest in the PPP project of 'Development of Integrated Tourism and Entertainment Village' at Parjatan Holiday Complex of Cox's Bazar.
He said with over 80 per cent of the world adopting it, PPP is a now a globally accepted model for supporting public finances in accelerating development and improving delivery of infrastructure and public services.
"The PPP programme in Bangladesh is well placed to meet transformation goals envisaged in our Millennium Development Goals and Vision 2021," he said.
CanCham President Masud Rahman said his chamber together with the PPP office will undertake events in the up-coming financial year to attract investors to come up with projects under PPP.
"That's why, CanCham is interested to know details of PPP in Bangladesh so that we could disseminate it to the potential investors of Bangladesh, Canada and North America," he said.
He said the creation of Public Private Partnership (PPP) Office could be regarded as a path-breaking initiative of the government.
Mr Masud Rahman said PPP could be a prime mover of economic growth and job creation and could be a major factor in lifting Bangladesh into a middle-income country status by 2021.
"The PPP programme is a part of the government's Vision 2021 goal to ensure a more rapid, inclusive growth trajectory, and to meet the need for enhanced, high quality public services in a sustainable manner," he added.
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