Three large shipbuilding companies in Bangladesh have received 'export offer' of about Taka 2,000 crore within a period of three months. Accordingly, a memorandum of understanding, in this regard, was signed earlier this month between the Highspeed Shipbuilding and Engineering Company Limited, Bangladesh's oldest and largest shipbuilder and Hollander Scholtens (HS) Groningen of the Netherlands for construction of eight MPC (ICE-Class) vessels. The eight ships each of 4500-tonne capacity will be built in phases at the cost of Tk 600 crore or equivalent to US $ 87 million from December next. Two other shipbuilders - Ananda Shipyard and Slipways Limited, based at Meghnaghat and Western Marine in Chittagong respectively have also bagged rest of the order of Tk 2,000 crore.
The country became global destination of shipbuilding last year. The new shipbuilding efforts and the entry into the global market, it is expected, will open new avenues for earning foreign exchange through export of ships besides creating wider scope of expansion of the industry and employment. Bangladesh's shipyards have acquired a lot of experience in the field of shipbuilding as most of the motor launches and cargo vessels plying within the country have been built at local shipyards. The cost of shipbuilding is 'highly competitive' compared to other foreign shipyards.
The local shipbuilders require urgently proper attention of the government so that whatever assistance they need is provided for rapid expansion of the industry for greater interest of the country. The private shipbuilders are optimistic about generating employment in line with readymade garment sector provided the government gives enough incentives to the sector. One of the shipbuilders the other day expressed the confidence of building even war ships of any category at the local shipyards with all the precision required internationally for the defence services.
The country became global destination of shipbuilding last year. The new shipbuilding efforts and the entry into the global market, it is expected, will open new avenues for earning foreign exchange through export of ships besides creating wider scope of expansion of the industry and employment. Bangladesh's shipyards have acquired a lot of experience in the field of shipbuilding as most of the motor launches and cargo vessels plying within the country have been built at local shipyards. The cost of shipbuilding is 'highly competitive' compared to other foreign shipyards.
The local shipbuilders require urgently proper attention of the government so that whatever assistance they need is provided for rapid expansion of the industry for greater interest of the country. The private shipbuilders are optimistic about generating employment in line with readymade garment sector provided the government gives enough incentives to the sector. One of the shipbuilders the other day expressed the confidence of building even war ships of any category at the local shipyards with all the precision required internationally for the defence services.