Singapore Shows Interest To Construct City At Outskirts Of Capital

"Our investors are very much interested in setting up an independent city having all modern facilities at Purbachal and it could be built under joint venture with Bangladeshi entrepreneur," visiting Senior Minister of State for Foreign and Home Affairs of Singapore Zulkifli Masagos said.

The Singaporean minister said this when he paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her office yesterday noon.

After the meeting, Prime Minister's Press Secretary AKM Shameem Chowdhury briefed reporters.

Zulkifli Masagos informed the Prime Minister that the Singaporean entrepreneurs are also keen to set up a power plant in Bangladesh.

The Prime Minister said her government is ready to allocate land at Mirsharai in Chittagong for the Singaporean investors to set up an exclusive economic zone.

Sheikh Hasina also sought support of the Singaporean government to train up the young generation in tourism and other specialized sectors for further development of Bangladesh.

In this connection, she also sought cooperation of the Singaporean government to set up a training institute for tourism.

Noting that Bangladesh's relations with Singapore are "very essential" for the country's development, the Prime Minister hoped that the ties would be further strengthened for mutual benefits.

"The Singaporean entrepreneurs could play an important role in the development of Bangladesh," she mentioned.

Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh has been able to maintain over six percent growth in the last six years despite global economic recession.

"It has been possible due to peaceful atmosphere and democracy prevailing in the country," she said.

Housing and Public Works Minister Engineer Mosharraf Hossain, PM's Foreign Affairs Advisor Dr Gowher Rizvi, Principal Secretary Abdus Sobhan Sikdar and the Singaporean High Commissioner to Bangladesh were present on the occasion.

-Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS)