Japanese entrepreneurs keen on developing gas, coal sectors in Bangladesh

Japanese entrepreneurs are interested in joining the effort to develop Bangladesh’s gas and coal sectors — the two potential fields of energy, reports UNB. Japan-Bangladesh Joint Committee for Commercial and Economic Cooperation (JBCCEC) Chairman Koji Nojima leading a nine-member JBCCEC delegation met Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) President Mir Nasir Hossain Wednesday and spoke about the interest of Japanese entrepreneurs in this regard. They discussed the potential and problems of cooperation between Bangladesh and Japan under the umbrella of JBCCEC, which was established between Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) and FBCCI in 1980. Nojima is now visiting Bangladesh to attend the inaugural function of the 3rd Japan Trade Fair 2007, beginning in the city today (Thursday) to promote new products of Japan. Japan-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JBCCI) organised the fair in association with the Japanese Embassy, Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) and Shoo-Koo-Kai. During the meeting, Nojima mentioned his long involvement in Japanese cooperation with Bangladesh and expressed his shock at the devastation caused by the cyclone. After his return to Japan, he would urge the JBCCEC members to contribute to the relief operations for the cyclone-affected people.

In response to Nojima’s remarks, FBCCI President Mir Nasir Hossain said he had high regard from him, as he had been acting as the catalyst in Japan’s cooperation with Bangladesh. He mentioned that the volume of trade between Bangladesh and Japan in 2006-07 amounted to $899.63 million, an increase of 20.54 over last year. This year, exports from Bangladesh to Japan were worth $147.47 million and imports into Bangladesh from Japan $752.16. Mir Nasir underscored the need for exploring ways from both the sides for further strengthening trade relations. He also mentioned that Japanese investment so far in Bangladesh was $1.2 billion and urged more investment for infrastructure development. The FBCCI president briefed the Japanese delegation leader about the newly-formed ‘Better Business Forum’ and called for greater market access for Bangladeshi products to Japanese market. Japanese Ambassador in Bangladesh Masayuki Inoue, JBCCI vice presidents Hideo Ueno and Abdul Haque, JBCCI Secretary General AKM Moazzem Hossain and Momohito Kinomoto and Yoshiteru Honda of JETRO were among the delegation members.

Source: The Financial Express.

Bangladesh Shipbuilding industry now a promising sector

The shipbuilding industry in Bangladesh is now becoming a promising sector as it has signed several contracts with Danish investors to build multipurpose vessels. On at least two instances, Danish shipping interests recently have placed substantial orders with Bangladeshi shipyards. Ananda Shipyard in Meghna Ghat and CS and Partnere A/S, a Danish ship consortium, have signed a agreement to build a ship, said a press release.

The first ship – a 2,900 DWT multi-purpose vessel currently under construction at Ananda Shipyard and will be delivered in early 2008 – is the first of a series of up to 14 ships ordered by the Danish investors.The second order landed by a Bangladeshi shipyard was when Western Marine in Chittagong signed a contract to build up to 5 multipurpose vessels (4,100 DWT) to be delivered to a Danish ship consortium. ‘The two orders have positioned these shipyards as serious players in the international shipbuilding industry in strong competition with Chinese and Vietnamese shipbuilders, said Danish Ambassador to Bangladesh Einar Hebogard Jensen. ‘In order to live up to the highest international standards to design ship and to obtain international accreditation from bureaus such as “Germanisher Lloyd” and “Norske Veritas” it will be important for the shipyards to be able to import various fittings and components necessary for the ships to reach an international standard,’ Einar commented. “To live up to export requirements, it will be essential that a mechanism can be introduced for facilitating an easy clearance of such fittings and components when imported. A “Green Channel” like in the textile industry could probably provide necessary flexibility for the involved parties,” the ambassador said.

The Ambassador continues: “To our knowledge, Ananda Shipyard and Western Marine are breaking new grounds in Bangladesh in their endeavours to succeed in these projects. The orders obtained will be instrumental in bringing Bangladesh into the picture as a serious player for building ships for the international shipping market. He also added that a number of potential ship owners are watching closely the development of the Ananda Shipyard and Western Marine projects.“If these assignments prove successful, the ship building industry in Bangladesh will play a very important role in future competition against ship building nations like Vietnam and China,’ the diplomat mentioned. He also claimed that successful shipbuilding ventures will have a tremendous positive impact on job generation, technology transfer and export revenues, and help Bangladesh to create another ‘thrust’ sector like export-oriented readymade garments and textiles and IT.

Source: http://www.newstoday-bd.com/business.asp?newsdate=11/15/2007#5260