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The government has planned to raise a major chunk of the proposed deep-sea port costs from the country's capital market to ease pressure on its resources and diversify investor's options in the stock markets, official sources said.
"The Ministry of Shipping has already floated tender to conduct the techno- feasibility study where the bid winner would have to examine whether the raising of 70 per cent capital for construction of the deep-sea port from capital market would be feasible," a senior official of the ministry told the FE.
Pointing to the cost involved for construction of the port, which is to be financed by the government itself, the official said: "Though the required investments would be determined in the techno-feasibility study it would not be less than Tk 30 billion."
So the country's capital market investors might have an option to invest to the tune of Tk over 20 billion for establishing the deep sea port if the raining of fund from the market is found viable in the techno-feasibility report, the ministry official said.
When contacted, Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Mirza Azizul Islam said: "It would certainly be good if a major portion of the deep sea port's investment is raised from the capital market."
The efficiency of the port construction management would be the crucial to woo investors in this regard, he said. the issue is still at the premature level he added.
Shipping ministry sources said after finalising the request for proposals (RFP) and the terms of reference (TOR) for conducting the techno feasibility study on developing the deep-sea port the ministry floated tender early this week.
Seven firms selected earlier have to collect tender documents by today (Tuesday) and submit the filled documents within 45 days next, the ministry official said.
After submissions of the proposals, a high-powered committee headed by Shipping Minister Akbar Hossain will sit to examine the proposals of the consulting firms to ensure about their efficiency to conduct the feasibility study.
A total of 100 marks have been fixed to judge the efficiency level based on their experiences in port-related jobs, educational qualifications and technical expertise.
The firms, which would secure over 60 per cent marks would be qualified the efficiency test of the ministry.
Financial offers of only the qualified consulting firms would be opened and considered for appointing the consultant to perform techno feasibility study on developing the deep-sea port.
The selected firms include HPC Hamburg Port Consulting of Germany, Royal Haskoning of the Netherlands, Kolen Gromit and Pvt. Ltd of Australia, Pacific Consultants International of Japan, BCEOM of France, CPCS Transcom Ltd. of Canada and Nathan Associates of the USA.
The firm to be appointed among the seven firms would prepare the feasibility report on commercial basis recommending the location, facilities and details of the infrastructure and services to be provided by the deep-sea port.
Assessing the potential markets both national and international and assessing business opportunities including value added services and facilities would also be one of the prime jobs of the consulting firm.
It would identify the most advantageous site for establishing the deep-sea port.
The firm would also examine the social and environment impact of the ports
The firm would estimate the required investments in short, medium and long terms with special attention on short term one for establishing the port.
Once the deep sea port is established, Bangladesh would be able to avoid Singapore, Malaysia and Sri Lanka port for carrying goods by mother vessels.
Besides, it would facilitate India, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar and China to carry their goods of bulk quantity to the respective countries over Bangladeshi territory through Asian Highway and help them avoid Singapore port.
All these neighbouring countries are now using the deep-sea port of Singapore to carry bulk quantity of goods to their respective countries.
If established, the port can contribute heavily to the national economy, said sources.
Shipping Ministry sources said, the construction of the port would facilitate arrival of mother vessels, cut lead-time for the leading export and import items and spur further economic growth in the region.
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