US ambassador calls for upgrading seaports
Bangladesh should modernise Chittagong and Mongla seaports and increase their capacity for becoming the "next Asian tiger", US Ambassador Dan W Mozena said yesterday.
Bangladesh needs an education revolution along with infrastructural development in road, rail, energy and power sectors, he said.
The country will also have to confront challenges like corruption, red-tapism, inadequate rule of law and political instability to attract more foreign direct investment.
If Bangladesh can deal with the challenges, it would be one of the greatest trade routes of the 21st century, Mozena said.
The envoy spoke at a roundtable -- Bangladesh's infrastructure development: in terms of progress, needs and the next step -- co-organised by Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and American Chamber of Commerce in Bangladesh (AmCham) here at Hotel Agrabad.
Mozena also stressed the need for building a deep-sea port for the sake of smooth shipment of export products.
If the country can ensure the highest quality of education and skills development for all its citizens, it will definitely emerge as the next Asian tiger, he said.
He also suggested Bangladesh import electricity from Nepal and double such import from India by developing infrastructure.
Chittagong Chamber President Mahbubul Alam said, as the cost of doing business in Bangladesh is less than almost any other country in the world, many foreign companies are interested to enhance their investment here.
But that is not happening due to infrastructure bottlenecks, he said.
AmCham President Aftab ul Islam said, though Chittagong has been termed literarily the country's commercial capital, the city lacks facilities for businesses, which forces many multinational companies to shift their headquarters to Dhaka.
Salahuddin Kasem Khan, vice president of Japan-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry, also echoed the views of Islam and said: “It is a matter of shame that we have not been able to develop the port city yet.”
Underscoring the need for a second gas pipeline for the port city, Khan said, “No foreign investment is coming here due to a gas crisis.”
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