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The Financial Express

Japan team reviewing six big PPP projects

| Updated: November 08, 2018 13:57:53


Picture used for illustrative purpose Picture used for illustrative purpose

A Japanese delegation is reviewing progress in six large infrastructure development projects under public-private partnership (PPP).

Official sources said this visit is part of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed during the second platform meeting in Japan on June 07.

It created cope for at least $7.0 billion investment in Bangladesh, they added.

The delegates have already visited the sites of some proposed projects, including Kamalapur Multimodal Transportation Hub (KMTB).

The seven-member team, sent by Japan land infrastructure, transport and tourism ministry, arrived in Dhaka on November 04.

Sources said they sat with the officials of PPP Authority, Prime Minister's Office, roads and highways department, railways ministry and Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority and bridges division.

The delegates will also talk to Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha and Dhaka South City Corporation.

"The Japan sub-working group members mainly arrived here to assess the government's real interest in Japanese investment in six projects," said an official.

"They're reviewing development so far made since the MoU was signed between the governments of Bangladesh and Japan," he added.

Seeking anonymity, the official said representatives of renowned Japanese companies like Kajina Corporation and Suzitz Corporation are interested to invest in two multimodal transportation hubs at Kamalapur and Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.

Japan confirmed the projects to be developed by its leading private firms at the second platform meeting.

The meeting set a specific timeline from contract signing to project implementation likely to be finalised at the third meeting in Dhaka next March.

The confirmed projects are Chittagong-Cox's Bazar Expressway, Metro Line-2, Kamalapur Multimodal Hub Development, Airport Station Multimodal Hub Development and Dhirasram Inland Container Development.

Two more projects of roads and highway department to build inner- and outer-circular roads are also in the pipeline for implementation in the next phase.

The second meeting formed sub-working group agreeing broad action plans and timeline for each project.

Sources said this visit will help continue talks at the Dhaka meeting.

Referring to the government's sincerity, the official said Dhirasram project has already got approval of the cabinet committee on economic affair.

The approval for the transportation hubs is also under process.

The feasibility studies of some projects were also done by the Bangladesh side.

The first platform meeting was held in December 2017 to explore the opportunity of the Japanese private sector's investment in more than 10 projects.

Among the dropped projects were management of third terminal of Dhaka airport and second Padma Bridge.

An official of the PPP Authority said primary estimate for each project is no less than $1.0 billion.

The investment in the projects would be determined after feasibility studies and negotiations with the private parties, he added.

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