CHITTAGONG. Nov 10: Minister for Shipping ASM Abdur Rob today emphasised the need for involvement of private sector in expansion, modernisation and overall improvement of port services for economic development of the country as well as to keep pace with the changes and demands of the time, reports BSS.

He said. Chittagong Port being the major sea port of the country would have to be developed in cooperation with local and international agencies keeping in view that development of this port would greatly contribute towards economic prosperity of the country.

Shipping minister was inaugurating the three-day seminar on "commercialisation and private sector involvement in ports’ held at the port training institute here today. The seminar has been organised jointly by ESCAP and the Chittagong Port Authority.

ASM Abdur Rob said, the port activities have to be carried on commercial basis in the interest of national economic

progress and world economic system where efficiency and competition are vital. "We cannot ignore or neglect technological advancement, economic competition and higher efficiency needed in our port services." he said. "Our ports have less private sector involvement in comparision with ports of the South Asian countries as a result of which our ports could not be expanded and modernised according to the demand of the lime." he added.

He said, present government has adopted necessary policy to make Chittagong Port more dynamic and efficient. He said Chittagong Port Authority have taken up a Tk 1000 crore 15-year master plan under which a new container terminal would be constructed and high tech modern handling equipment would be procured. To involve the private sector with port activities. he added, a containerhandling terminal would be constructed outside the port protected area.

The shipping minister also said that containers are being transported by road to different part* of the country while a river container port would be set up in Dhaka soon.