Upgrade Chittagong port for trade expansion: Bangladesh's trade body

11 Jan '22

2 min read

Pic: Dreamstime.com

The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) recently proposed capacity building of the Chittagong seaport and faster cargo transport to cope with potential trade expansion and draw more foreign investors. If production starts in full swing at the Bangabandhu Industrial City and other special economic zones, then the pressure on the prime seaport will increase manifold, it said.

The recommendations were made during the first meeting of the FBCCI standing committee on ports and shipping last week in Dhaka.

"At least 5.0 per cent of cost of doing business could be reduced if the capacity of Chittagong port is enhanced and foreign entrepreneurs would get interest in investing in Bangladesh," the apex trade body said in a standing committee meet.

FBCCI president Mohammad Jashim Uddin called for increasing the capacity of the port and speeding up haulage now as they foresee prospect of trade expansion, according to Bangla media reports.

"At present the speed of cargo vehicles on the Dhaka-Chattogram highway is 40 kilometres per hour. If this speed is doubled, the competitiveness of the export sector will increase by 6 per cent," he said.

He recommended that chemicals imported through Chittagong port be tested separately before unloading.

"Chittagong Customs does not have adequate laboratories. It takes importers 10 to 12 days to get the test done. Steps should be taken immediately to solve these problems related to the port," he added.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)

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