Bangladesh: Shipbuilders get $478m export orders

Leading local shipbuilders received export orders of world-class seagoing small, large and ice-class vessels worth 478 million US dollar with a deadline to deliver those by 2013. Ananda Shipyard and Slipways Ltd (ASSL) received orders for export of 28 vessels valued at 348 million US dollar from different countries including the Netherlands.
On the other hands, Western Marine Shipyard Ltd (WMSL) got orders worth $130 million to export 12 vessels to a German company styled Grona Shipping.
Shipbuilders say the huge orders were bagged due to the government's declaring the sector as thrust one.
The global financial recession dented many developed countries excepting developing ones including Bangladesh and that is why buyers of developed countries expressed their interest in giving shipbuilding orders to Bangladesh.
Talking to BSS, chairman of Association of Export-Oriented Shipbuilding Industries of Bangladesh (AESIB) Abdullahhel Bari, said the shipbuilding industry will be able to get diverse facilities from buyers like the country's garment industry if the government increases shipbuilding facilities.
There is no alternative to increasing shipbuilding facilities to be a major player in the international market as more than 50 percent ships are getting older than 20 years, he said.
To compete with many South Asian countries including India, Bari said, the country should have at least 10 shipyards that involve cost of Taka 3,000 crore.
Local shipbuilders could manage the amount if the government gives a sizeable cash incentive and allows refinancing scheme from Bangladesh Bank for shipbuilders, said the AESIB chairman.
The size of global ship export market stood at US$400 billion and Bangladesh can easily obtain one percent of the export orders equivalent to US$ 4 billion if the sector gets cash incentive, say top shipbuilders.
The local shipbuilders are now receiving many orders from Germany, Denmark, Pakistan and Middle Eastern countries as Bangladesh is increasingly being recognised as an attractive destination for medium and small vessel building, said they.