Thailand’s government has evinced interest in introducing direct coastal shipping between Chittagong port and Thailand’s Ranong port. A high-level 13-member Thai delegation will arrive in Dhaka today for a three-day visit, sources in the shipping ministry told The Independent yesterday. According to the sources, the delegation members will visit the Chittagong port and will meet senior government officials to discuss introduction of coastal shipping between the two countries. A study will be conducted on various aspects, including the capacity of Chittagong port with regard to coastal shipping, the sources said. “The Prime Minister has, in principle, given approval to introduce coastal shipping with neighbouring and nearby countries of Bangladesh. We have a plan to introduce coastal shipping with Sri Lanka, Myanmar and other countries,” the source said.
Assistant director general (asset management and business development) of the Port Authority of Thailand (PAT) Pol. Lt. Prajak Sriwatthana is leading the 13-member delegation.
The other members of the delegation are deputy director (asset management and business development) of PAT, Somchai Hemthong, director of PAT’s business relations and marketing division, Sasipat Nandigupta, chief of PAT’s business promotion section, Tanai Vipasthavach, administrative officer of PAT’s 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. The delegation will meet shipping minister Shajahan Khan and also the secretary of the department during its visit to Bangladesh, the source said.
According to the Chittagong Port Authority (CPA), the present government has taken serious steps in different problem areas as part of the sustainable reforms initiatives for the port. Consequently, it has become possible to handle more ships and cargoes by using 60 per cent of the existing port facilities of Chittagong, sources said. A total of 20.25 lakh TEU containers and 51.38 lakh tonnes of general cargo was handled by Chittagong Port in 2015, which has created a new record since the port was established in 1977.