The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will attend the opening function of the road show in London on December 15.

Prime Minister's Adviser for Power and Energy Dr Tawfiq-e-Elahi Bir Bikram said it to The New Nation yesterday.

He said the government has already taken preparation to hold the road show.

The Prime minister will deliver a speech before investors in power and energy sectors with a call to invest in 10 large power plants and two LNG stations in Bangladesh.

The government will invite nearly 100 local and foreign investors in the London road show.

A total of 11 members including Dr Tawfiq-e-Elahi, State Minister for Power and Energy Brig Gen (retd) Enamul Huq, Power Secretary Abul Kalam Azad, Chairmen of the Board of Investment Dr SA Samad, Petrobangla Chairman Prof Hossain Monsoor, Power Development Board Chairman ASM Alamgir Kabir, and Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation, Energy Regulatory Commission Chairman Syed Yusuf Hossain, Deputy governor of Bangladesh Bank, PDB member generation and PDB member distribution will participate in the London road show.

The government will also arrange two-day Road show in Washington, which will start on December 18 while the two-day road show in Singapore will begin on December 21.

In Washington road show, the Board of Investment will invite 75 foreign and local investors while the volume of invitees in Singapore will be 60 persons, sources said.

The estimated cost for the three road show is $3, 09,026, Power Development Board (PDB) sources said.

The government will distribute gifts to foreign delegates and publish supplements in newspapers at an estimated cost of $1,71,526.

Besides, the transportation fares and other related cost will be $1,25,000 while transportation cost and hotel rent for delegation will be $ 12,500.

Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources has already requested the Board of Investment (BoI) of Bangladesh to invite chambers leaders of USA, UK, China, Malaysia, Korea, Russia and some others countries, sources said.

Besides, the Ministry also requested the BoI to invite the local investors in power sector. In this case, the local investors will bear all the expanses to join the road shows.

The government will hold the road shows to attract foreign direct investments in the projects like: Coal based power plants each having capacity of 500MW in Chittagong, Khulna , Mawna/ Jazira and Meghnaghat. FDI will be encouraged also for establishments of 450MW Bibiana Power Plant Unit-2, 450 MW Meghnaghat Duel fuel based Power Plant, 225MW Bhola Power plant Unit 2 , 450MW Sirajgonj unit-1 Power Plant, Kaliakoir and Savar Power Plant (each having capacity of 100 MW) and two LNG terminals, Power Division Secretary Md Abul Kalam Azad earlier told The New Nation .

The Power Division will also attract investments for installation of 400MW wind and solar based renewable power plants, he said. As per PDB estimates more than $5 billion will be required to install the power plants.