Netherlands keen to invest in Sonadia deep-sea port

Netherlands has offered to invest in Bangladesh’s planned deep-sea port at Sonadia in Cox’s Bazar.

Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali said on Sunday that Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte showed much interest in the project while meeting Sheikh Hasina at Milan in Italy on the sidelines of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM).

Hasina returned to Dhaka on Saturday night after attending the 53-nation grouping.

The foreign minister said the prime minister had said that Bangladesh was examining offers from several countries for the Sonadia project.

He said the offer considered best for Bangladesh would be accepted.

The foreign minister, however, said the government had yet to start formal scrutiny of the proposals from the countries.

Netherlands offered to build it in public-private partnership (PPP).

The idea of building Sonadia deep-sea port was conceived to reduce the burden of Chittagong, the country's major port, which can no longer take the pressure or rising demand.

Given steady economic growth of the country, Chittagong is unable to handle the traffic, so an alternative seaport is needed.

Bangladesh also needs a big new port if it wants to become a major economic hub providing sea access to China's Yunnan Province, India's land-locked seven north-eastern states, Nepal and Bhutan.

Trade from these areas are greatly hampered owing to their distance from the sea and could benefit Bangladesh economically if it provides them with a new big port.

Many countries including China, Japan, and India have showed interest to build the seaport.