Single online platform planned to ease ship recycling approvals: minister

Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir today said an initiative is being taken to launch a single-service online system to reduce the complexity of the approval process in the ship recycling sector.

He said this would make it possible to complete various government approvals quickly and easily.

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The minister made the comments after a meeting today with a delegation from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), led by its chief representative for Bangladesh, Takahashi Junko.

At the meeting, held at the commerce ministry, the minister said the ship recycling industry plays an important role in Bangladesh's economy by creating extensive employment opportunities.

Sustainable development in the sector requires strengthened safety systems, environmental protection, the use of modern technology, and a simplified approval process, he said.

Muktadir also said the JICA Ship Recycling Project, being implemented with JICA's cooperation, would play an important role in enhancing the capacity of the country's ship recycling sector and building an internationally standardised system.

It was mentioned at the meeting that, under the project, the following would be developed: an assessment of the capacity of ship recycling yards, training for relevant personnel, preparation of modern guidelines, verification and certification of ship recycling facility plans, and an improved approval system for ship recycling plans.

"Building the capacity of local entrepreneurs and connecting them with the international industrial system is one of the government's key goals. With JICA's cooperation, Bangladesh's industrial sector will become more competitive," the minister said.

The JICA Bangladesh chief representative said they are working with relevant organisations to address the administrative and technical challenges facing Bangladesh's ship recycling industry.