The New Nation - Internet Edition

NATION BUSINESS REPORT

Six ocean going vessels, built in Bangladesh, will be handed over to the government of Mozambique on November 13.

Ananda Shipyard and Shipways Ltd (ASSL), one of the premier ship building companies of the country, has built these ships at a cost of eight million US dollars.

Speaking at a press conference at the Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) in the city yesterday, Chairman of ASSL, naval architect Dr Abdullahel Bari said that the ships will be handed over to the Mozambique authorities on the premises of the shipyard at Meghnaghat under Sonargaon upazila in Narayanganj district.

Shipping Adviser Major General (Retd) MA Matin is expected to attend the handing over ceremony as the chief guest, Bari said.

The six vessels, equipped with international standard machineries, have been built at a cost of eight million US dollar, he said, adding that another ship will be exported to Denmark in the first quarter of January next.

Ananda Shipyard Ltd has so far received 373 million US dollar export orders for building 22 vessels for various countries, including Denmark, Germany and Mozambique.

Speaking on the occasion, Managing Director of the group Afroza Bari said, Bangladesh has been recognized as a ship-exporting country in the world with the delivery of the first of ocean going vessel on May 15 this year.

The country has already witnessed a huge employment opportunities in the ship building sector by creating confidence of the country's skilled engineers and easy training modules for the workforce, said Afroza Bari.

The press conference was also attended, among others, by company directors Alauddin A Mazid (Finance), Fahmida Bulbul Kakoli (Establishment), Rakibur Rahman Chowdhury (administration) and Saiful Islam (Technical).