Japan to invest under new arrangement in Bangladesh
The Daily Star reported that Japan is going to invest in Bangladesh's infrastructure projects under a new arrangement in which its companies will work under the government-to-government system without participating in any bidding. The Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Ministry of Japan, and the Public Private Partnership (PPP) Authority of Bangladesh will soon float a joint public private project management platform to this end.
The platform, to be comprised of permanent members from both the countries, will select Japanese companies for implementing the projects. It will also mobilise funds and monitor project implementation, say officials of the PPP Authority that works under the Prime Minister's Office.
The development comes amid commitments of billions of dollar from China and India for several infrastructure projects in Bangladesh. Chinese and Indian companies have already started working in the projects either through limited bidding or without it.
The PPP Authority officials could not say how much money would be invested under the new arrangement or how the funds would be mobilised.
Mr Syed Afsor H Uddin, chief executive officer of the PPP Authority, and Yasuki Kaibori, deputy minister of Japan's land, infrastructure, transport and tourism ministry, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in Japan in June.
An official of the PPP Authority, said that “The PPP Authority will first identify infrastructure projects such as highways, ring roads, subways, and economic zones after having discussions with the ministries concerned. The joint management platform will then select a project for implementation. After the selection, the company will carry out a feasibility study.”
Source : The Daily Star