UNB, Dhaka :
A high profile 12-member delegation from the Port Authority of Thailand arrived in Dhaka on Monday afternoon on a three-day visit to assess the feasibility of direct coastal shipping between Chittagong seaport and Ranong Port of Thailand.
The Thai delegation will hold official talks with the officials of the Ministry of Shipping today (Tuesday) to discuss a proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish direct coastal shipping links between Chittagong and Ranong.
Bangladesh Embassy in Thailand termed the initiative a ‘ground-breaking connectivity initiative’ between the two countries. Direct coastal shipping links between Bangladesh and Thailand, according to experts, is expected to lower the trading and shipping costs of goods and services between the two countries, save time of cargo shipping, create a new connectivity, trade and transportation route with Thailand, and contribute to enhancing bilateral trade and investment.
This would be the first official discussion on direct coastal shipping connectivity between Bangladesh and any ASEAN Country, a proposal that was put forward by Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Md Shahidul Haque to Thailand’s former Foreign Secretary Norachit Sinhaseni during the latter’s visit to Bangladesh in June 2015 for the first Foreign Ministry Consultations
between the two countries.
Shipping Secretary Ashoke Madhab Roy is expected to lead the Bangladesh delegation, which incudes Bangladesh Ambassador to Thailand Saida Muna Tasneem, senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Shipping, Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority, Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority, port authorities of Chittagong and Mongla.
A high profile 12-member delegation from the Port Authority of Thailand arrived in Dhaka on Monday afternoon on a three-day visit to assess the feasibility of direct coastal shipping between Chittagong seaport and Ranong Port of Thailand.
The Thai delegation will hold official talks with the officials of the Ministry of Shipping today (Tuesday) to discuss a proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish direct coastal shipping links between Chittagong and Ranong.
Bangladesh Embassy in Thailand termed the initiative a ‘ground-breaking connectivity initiative’ between the two countries. Direct coastal shipping links between Bangladesh and Thailand, according to experts, is expected to lower the trading and shipping costs of goods and services between the two countries, save time of cargo shipping, create a new connectivity, trade and transportation route with Thailand, and contribute to enhancing bilateral trade and investment.
This would be the first official discussion on direct coastal shipping connectivity between Bangladesh and any ASEAN Country, a proposal that was put forward by Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Md Shahidul Haque to Thailand’s former Foreign Secretary Norachit Sinhaseni during the latter’s visit to Bangladesh in June 2015 for the first Foreign Ministry Consultations
between the two countries.
Shipping Secretary Ashoke Madhab Roy is expected to lead the Bangladesh delegation, which incudes Bangladesh Ambassador to Thailand Saida Muna Tasneem, senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Shipping, Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority, Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority, port authorities of Chittagong and Mongla.
