Direct coastal shipping with Thailand
�MoU to be signed after port capacity evaluation�
�Duration of transportation and cost of goods will reduce to one per cent from three per cent if the route is introduced�
STAFF REPORTER
The proposed memorandum of understanding (MoU) to establish direct coastal shipping links between Chittagong port and Thai Ranong port for boosting bilateral trade will be signed with Thailand after conducting a study regarding the capacity of Chittagong Port and its facilities, said Shipping Secretary Ashoke Madhab Roy yesterday.
The shipping ministries of Bangladesh and Thailands government have started talks in a view to introduce direct coastal shipping between the two countries.
The 13-member delegation of Thailand yesterday discussed with the officials of shipping ministry for signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) after conducting a study regarding the capacity of Chittagong port and its facilities.
Acting shipping secretary of Bangladesh Ashok Madhab Roy and Assistant director general (asset management and business development) of the Port Authority of Thailand (PAT) Pol. Lt.
Prajak Sriwatthana led the meeting on behalf of their respective countries held at the secretariat yesterday.
The meeting also discussed for strengthening bilateral trade through coastal shipping between the two countries and the MoU will be signed after evaluation of port facilities.
The Thai delegation expressed to Bangladeshs officials in it governments interest in introducing direct coastal shipping between Chittagong port and Thailands Ranong port.
It would help to play an important role to expand trade between the two countries after introduction direct communications between the two ports through coastal shipping, the meeting observed. The meeting also observed that duration of transportation and cost of goods will reduce to one per cent from three per cent if the route is introduced.
Besides, it would help to develop communication not only with Myanmar but with South-East Asia too, the officials observed.
Officials of Bangladesh and Thailand believed that the traders from both the countries will feel encouraged for expansion of bilateral trades between the two countries after introduction of direct coastal shipping.
Among others, Bangladeshs ambassador to Thailand Saida Muna Tasneem and representative of foreign, commerce and shipping ministries, bangaldesh economic processing authority, Bangladesh export processing authority,
chittagong port authority and Mongla port authority attended the meeting on behalf Bangladesh side.
While, deputy director (asset management and business development) of PAT, Somchai Hemthong, director of PATs business relations and marketing division, Sasipat Nandigupta, chief of PATs business promotion section, Tanai Vipasthavach, administrative officer of PATs business promotion section, Kanchisa Deerod, governor of Ranong province, Suriyan Kanjanasilp, vice governor of Ranong province, Narong Pholla-iad, assistant chief officer of the district, Noppol Sukitpaneenid, chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, Sudaporn Yodpinij, president of the Thai-Bangladesh business council, Mingpant Chayavichitsilp, director of Ranong Customs House, Krisda Tongdhamachart, and country representative/director of Samudera Traffic Company Ltd, Eky Kurniawan, among others, attended the meeting from Thailand.
The visiting Thai delegation members will visit the Chittagong port to examine its existing facilities and capacity today.
Both Bangladesh and Thailand had signed maritime assistance agreement in 1988but it is inactive now.
