Chattagram Bureau: Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry exchanged views and signed an agreement with a 3-member delegation of Portico Shipping Ltd., Portmouth, UK at the Chamber office at World Trade Center on October 30. The MoU was signed by President Mahbubul Alam on behalf of the Chittagong Chamber and Mr. Stephen Williams MBE, Managing Director on behalf of Portico Shipping Ltd. Chamber Vice President Syed Mohammad Tanveer, Portico Shipping Ltd Business Consultant Mahbub Noor Mabs and Business Development Manager Ms. Vanessa Sherry, Bangladesh Shipping Agents Association Director Shahed Sarwar, Karnaphuli Ship Builders Ltd Advisor Consultant Captain Amirul Islam and Trusted Shipping Line’s Executive Director Wahid Alam spoke. Among others, Chamber Director AKM Akhter Hossain, CMA CGM Operations Manager Masood Sadiki and Chamber Secretariat officials were present.
Chamber president Mahbubul Alam said that a few days ago, the direct shipping of Chittagong port with Italy’s Ravena port was started. Besides, Bangladesh has export trade with France, Netherlands and Belgium along with UK. No doubt, direct shipping with any port in the region will save both money and time. So if Portsmouth Portica port in UK is convenient for us then direct shipping with Portica port can be considered.
Chamber Vice-President Syed Mohammad Tanveer said that both importers and exporters will benefit if the UK has direct maritime connectivity with Bangladesh. Therefore direct shipping communication with Portica Port is beneficial for our export buyers and shipping companies and needs to be thoroughly reviewed and decided. The vice-president assured cooperation from Chittagong Chamber in this review work.
Portico Shipping Ltd Managing Director Mr. Stephen Williams MBE said Portsmouth is a private open port. Besides this port has one stop service facility. Through which, starting from the redemption of the product, the delivery of the product to the specific destination is facilitated which is economical and time saving. Therefore, using these facilities, products can be exported directly from Bangladesh to the UK market by ship and this port will also be a transshipment hub for Bangladesh’s exports in that region, he said.
