Thai delegation visits Ctg Port

A high profile Thai delegation today visited Chittagong Port (CP) as per the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a view to connecting Chittagong Port with Ranong Port of Thailand.
Earlier, a bilateral meeting with high officials of Chittagong port, customs and
Thai delegation was held at port auditorium with port member Julfiquar Aziz in the chair.
The Chittagong Port officials presented the infrastructural facilities of CP through the Power Point presentation before the Thai delegation while Thailand port authority business promotion Chief Thanai Vipashthvach presented infrastructural facilities of Ranong Port in the meeting.
The delegation in the meeting informed the CP officials that Thailand is keen to introduce a coastal shipping trading route between its Ranong Port and Chittagong Port to enhance bilateral trade with Bangladesh.
“We want to see Ranong Port, located on the Andaman sea, as the gateway for connecting Thailand to BIMSTEC countries and as a shipping hub at Andaman sea, transporting goods from Thailand to the ports of Yangon, Chittagong, Kolkata, Chennai and Colombo,” said the delegation chief Thanai.
In the meeting the two parties pointed out that direct shipping links between Chittagong and Ranong Ports could cut down bilateral shipping cost to at least one third and save shipment time in comparison to the present route via Singapore.
CP member (Administration) Jafar Alam, port secretary Omar Faruk, Director Port Sadeka Begum, Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industries director Mazfujul Hoque Shah and Assistant Customs commissioner Mukitul Hasan among others were present on the occasion.
Later, the Thai delegation also visited the jetty of Chittagong port , Chittagong Export Processing Zone. and CCCI office & World trade centre, sources said.