Bangladesh proposes to launch direct shipping with Norway
Last Updated on November 12, 2024 5:17 am
Advisor for Shipping and Textiles and Jute, Brigadier General (Retd) Dr. M Sakhawat Hossain, has urged the country to launch direct cargo shipping between Norway and Bangladesh. He said that if a direct shipping connection is established in Norway, it is possible to reach goods from Chittagong to any port in Norway within 15 days. For this, he also emphasized the need to sign a special shipping agreement between Bangladesh and Norway. The shipping advisor made this call when Norwegian Ambassador to Bangladesh Håkon Arald Gulbrandsen, who is posted in the Ministry of Shipping, came to meet him on Sunday.
The advisor said that Chittagong Port is the golden gateway to the country’s economy. The government has been successfully conducting shipping trade with the outside world through Chittagong Port and other seaports. The important export destinations from Bangladesh are the European Union countries. Noting that the export of various products of Bangladesh, especially ready-made garments (RMG), to the European Union market is continuously increasing, the advisor said that RMG products of Bangladesh have already taken an important place in the Norwegian market. Currently, it takes 40 to 45 days or more to reach cargo from Chittagong port to European Union countries through transshipment. Whereas, if direct shipping communication is established in Norway, it will take an average of 18 to 23 days less to reach any port in Norway from Chittagong and the cost of carrying goods will also be significantly reduced.
The Norwegian ambassador welcomed the advisor’s proposal and said that the two countries have a long history of mutual relations, development cooperation and commercial relations. Various Norwegian companies are interested in working in Bangladesh in other sectors including the shipping industry.
Dr. Sakhawat Hossain said that there is currently a very favorable investment environment in Bangladesh. Due to its geostrategic advantage, Bangladesh has become an important hub of international communication in South Asia. Apart from Chittagong port, our two seaports of Mongla and Payra are very promising. Initiatives have been taken to make Mongla Port a greenport. In addition, a deep seaport is being built in Matarbari. Norway can invest technically and financially in the construction of dockyards of these two ports. The advisor expected Norway’s support for Bangladesh in the IMO elections to be held in 2025. In response, the ambassador said that Norway is always by Bangladesh’s side. At that time, Secretary of the Ministry of Textiles and Jute Md. Abdur Rouf, Acting Secretary of the Ministry of Shipping Delwara Begum, and senior officials of the ministry were present.