Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir has said coordinated policy and infrastructure support is being prepared to boost exports from Bangladesh’s shipbuilding and ship recycling industries.
The initiative also aims to ease bank guarantee requirements for private shipyards.
He said the government was prioritising both sectors to tap growing international demand, expand domestic capacity and address financial barriers facing private shipbuilders through coordinated public-private initiatives.
The minister outlined the plans at a meeting with senior officials and stakeholders at Chittagong Dry Dock Limited (CDDL) in Chattogram.
Muktadir said several thousand ageing vessels worldwide were expected to enter the ship recycling market over the next five to seven years, creating significant opportunities for Bangladesh.
To capitalise on the demand, the government was working to increase the number of environmentally compliant green shipyards.
Several approved green yards were already operating, while more were awaiting approval, he said.
The minister said the ship recycling industry had the potential to generate several billion dollars in foreign exchange annually in the future.
He also stressed the need to strengthen ship design capabilities and comply with international standards to expand ship exports, particularly to European and North American markets.
To support the industry’s development, the government was planning a modern design and skills development centre in collaboration with partners from countries such as Norway and the Netherlands.
Muktadir identified bank guarantee requirements as a major obstacle preventing private shipyards from fulfilling export orders.
He said the government was exploring a hybrid model involving collaboration between Navy-operated dockyards and private shipbuilding companies.
Under the proposed arrangement, private firms would be able to undertake shipbuilding projects using bank guarantee facilities under government supervision.
The minister said a high-level committee comprising representatives from the ministries of Shipping, Environment, Forest and Climate Change and Commerce would coordinate efforts to develop the two industries.
During the meeting, CDDL officials highlighted the company’s potential to construct larger vessels.
They said modern cranes, fabrication workshops, ship design facilities and additional construction docks were needed to make full use of its shipbuilding capacity.
Among those attending were Chattogram Naval Area Commander Rear Admiral Md Ziaul Haque, Dockyard Area Superintendent Rear Admiral Md Ruhul Minhaj and CDDL Managing Director Commodore Mohammad Zainal Abedin.
Senior officials of Bangladesh Navy and CDDL, along with representatives of the relevant ministries, were also present.
Later, the commerce minister visited Karnaphuli Dry Dock in Anwara upazila, where the company’s Managing Director Engineer Abdur Rashid was present.
