Staff Reporter :
Three Memorandum of Understandings [MoUs] were signed with two Chinese companies on Thursday for the development of Payra seaport in the southern district of Patuakhali.
The MoUs were signed between Paira Port Authority and China Harbal Engineering Company Limited and China State Construction Engineering Corporation Limited at the Ministry of Shipping at Secretariat in the city.
Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan was present at that time, said an official release.
The MoUs were signed for the construction of Payra Port’s main infrastructure, bank protection and building dams, houses and health and education establishments.
The Payra Port, situated at Kalapara in Patuakhali, has already stated unloading goods in a limited scale.
Officials said two MoUs were signed with China Harbour Engineering Company for the construction of ‘core port infrastructure’. Besides, another MoU was inked with China State Construction Engineering Corporation for building ‘riparian liabilities’ and ‘housing, education and health facilities’ of the port.
Payra Port Authority Chairman-in-Charge Commodore M Saidur Rahman, China Harbal Engineering Company Limited Joint Managing Director ML Zeng Nanhai and China State Construction Engineering Corporation Limited Managing Director Li Shujiang signed the MoUs on behalf of their respective organizations. Shipping Secretary Ashok Madhab Roy was also present at the function, among others.
The Chinese companies are expected to invest US$ 600 million under the MoUs.
As per MoUs, the China Harbal Engineering Company Limited will construct the main infrastructure, including connecting bridges, roads, sewerage and railway links.
Besides, the China State Construction Engineering Corporation Limited will deal with the bank protection and construction of houses and education and health establishments.
The three development components will be implemented under G-to-G [government to government] cooperation.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina formally inaugurated it as the country’s third seaport on August 13 to expedite Port activities of the country keeping pace with the rising national economic growth.
The government has undertaken short-term, mid-term and long-term plans to develop Payra Port as a world standard modern and green seaport by 2023.
Speaking on the occasion, the Shipping Minister said the Payra Port Authority has marched one step forward in the way of building a modern seaport by singing the MoUs.
