Cargo flights from Ctg begins January 18

Preparations are afoot to introduce cargo flights from the port city to different destinations particularly those in the East Asian cites for boosting trade and businesses.

Goods in export-import category are the prime targets for such cargo flights, business circle said.

State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Mir Mohammad Nasir Uddin told BSS Monday that the cargo flight from the Shah Amanat International Airport (SAIA) will be formally inaugurated on January 18.

Before the inauguration, a high powered meeting of senior officials and business community leaders will be held in the port to devise ways and means for smoother operation of the cargo flights and overcoming possible obstacles.

Meanwhile, a 7-member Thai Cargo agents delegation based in Chiangmai arrived the port on Sunday on a four-day visit to have an on the spot assessment of the arrangement including infrastructures, security and other logistics as well as business prospects before dispatching of cargoes by air is initiated.

Arthorm Dhamabutra, Manager (Cargo Mails & Sales) of the Thai Airways, is leading the delegation that comprised leading cargo operators and Thai Airways officials.

The delegation has already visited the SAIA to see for themselves the infrastructure facilities for the cargo handling and held formal talks with the officials of Chittagong Customs House.

They are scheduled to meet the leaders of trade circle to gather information about prospects and obstacles in this regard, delegation sources said.

They also visited different export oriented factories particularly those in the garments and seafood sectors located in the city and in the Chittagong Export Processing Zone (CEPZ).

Mohammad Ataullah, Manager (Cargo) of Thai Airways Bangladesh, who is accompanying the delegation, told BSS that the delegation has shown their keen interest in promoting business between Chiangmai and Chittagong through air cargo operation.

He pointed out that the existing cargo terminal at SAIA is too small and there is hardly any noticeable security arrangement for the incoming or outgoing cargoes.

"It should have been done much earlier as there are huge possibilities of business," Ataullah said.

The state of the art SAIA was built with the Japanese assistance, having a cargo terminal building of only 2700 sq meter area and a 312 sq meter cargo agents building, has no cargo warehouse, which is a must for keeping export-import cargoes safely for the time takes before and after delivery and documentation, airport sources said.

Manager of SAIA Mohammad Khurshed Alam Sarker said preparations are on to make a good start for the cargo flight from here but what was needed is necessary skilled manpower, requisite equipment and policy guideline as the Civil Aviation Authority may be assigned to operate the cargo terminal instead of Bangladesh Biman which at present is handling the cargo village at ZIA.

Official sources said Customs officials are already posted there and a counter of Sonali Bank also set up at the cargo terminal building for assessment of duties and help documentation of cargoes.

The port city's business circle see huge prospect of increasing trade and business particularly in the export-import sector between Bangladesh and some East Asian and Middle Eastern countries through introduction of cargo flight at SAIA against the backdrop of inauguration of flight operations by four separate aviation companies -- Bangladesh Biman, Silk Air, Fuket and Thai Airways to different destinations of those countries.

Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Amir Humayun Mahmud Chowdhury said besides reduction of carrying costs, it would tremendously help boosting trade with some neighbouring countries.

Bangladesh Clearing and Forwarding Agents Association President M Salimullah said that it would help prompt export-import of garments products, raw materials and accessories, emergency medicine and also help find new markets in exporting perishable goods and sea foods of greater Chittagong region.