Picture shows the yard of Western Marine in Chittagong. The government now plans a special zone for the shipbuilders.Photo: STAR

Bangladesh will establish a special shipbuilding zone to promote the export-oriented shipbuilding sector with the aim of earning $5 billion a year from exports by 2015, said officials.
The Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), which is leading the plan, is now in talks with top shipbuilding entrepreneurs in the country, they said.
"We plan to establish a shipbuilding zone to accommodate top exporters on the same premises and help the sector expand by providing more incentives and supports," said EPB Vice Chairman Jalal Ahmed.
The shipbuilding and ICT sectors can individually earn up to $5 billion a year from exports, he said, adding that the government should come forward to expedite expansion of the sectors.
"Bangladesh economy is now dependent on only traditional export items. It needs diversification to sustain. The shipbuilding and ICT sectors have the potential to diversify our export basket and generate more employment," Ahmed said.
Industry people want the shipbuilding zone at Mongla, Meghna, Patuakhali or Kutubdia but the government will conduct a feasibility study for selecting the site, according to officials.
Ananda Shipyard and Slipways Ltd, Western Marine, Highspeed Shipbuilding, Dhaka Dockyard and Engineering Works, Khan Brothers Shipbuilding Ltd and Karnaphuli Shipyard are the leading shipbuilders that make ocean-going ships for international buyers.
These companies have received export orders of world-class seagoing vessels -- both small and medium -- worth $ 478 million with a deadline to deliver those by 2013.
Ananda Shipyard received orders for exporting 28 vessels worth $348 million from different countries, including the Netherlands, while Western Marine got orders worth $130 million to export 12 vessels to a German company.
The global recession rocked many developed countries, and forced them to shift their shipbuilding orders to Bangladesh.
Chief Executive Officer of Dhaka Dockyard Gazi G Rabbani said his company fetched orders of two bulk carriers at $40 million and two 'goat carriers' worth $15 million for exports to Middle Eastern countries.
MA Rashid, managing director of Karnaphuli Shipyard, said his company received a good number of queries on dredgers and container ships from the world's top shipbuilders and suppliers, but they are yet to reach a final decision.
The size of the global shipbuilding market is $400 billion and Bangladesh can easily grab 1 percent of the market equivalent to $4 billion if the sector gets cash incentive, said the industry people.
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