JBS Vol 09. Num 1. 2007 - Public Private Partnership for Efficient Port Operation: A Proposal for Chittagong Port Authority

Chittagong Port is the principal gateway of international trade and commerce in Bangladesh. The maritime dependency factor of Bangladesh is 30%, of which 89% of the trade in volume terms is handled by Chittagong Port alone. Also the port contributes 35-40% of the government budgetary revenue through the earnings of export-import taxes, excise duties, VAT etc. About 7,000 employees are employed by Chittagong Port Authority (CPA), which is addressing the problem of unemployment to some extent. But the CPA is unable to provide prompt and efficient port operation as compared to private sector port operation of other countries due to hierarchical, bureaucratic and time-consuming decision making processes. In the recent past, port operation through Public Private Partnership (PPP) has grown. Computerized Container Terminal Management System (CTMS) and Management Information System (MIS) must be introduced to avoid crime, corruption, and costs associated with documentation processes.