Red Sea Gateway Terminal (RSGT), operator of Saudi Arabia's largest terminal facility at Jeddah Port, has proposed investing in the operation, maintenance and modernisation of the newly built Patenga Container Terminal (PCT) of Chattogram Port.

Aamer A Alireza, vice chairman of the RSGT, placed the proposal during a meeting with Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, the state minister for shipping, in Jeddah yesterday, said a press release issued by the shipping ministry.

The meeting was held when a delegation led by Chowdhury visited the head office of RSGT.

RSGT senior officials, including Chief Executive Officer Jens Floe, were present at the meeting when they presented plans and investment proposals to modernise the PCT.

Rear Admiral Mohammad Shahjahan, chairman of the Chattogram Port Authority (CPA), and Mohammad Javed Patwari, ambassador of Bangladesh to Saudi Arabia, were also present.

After the meeting, the minister visited the container handling operations of RSGT at Jeddah Islamic Port.

RSGT expressed its interest in the modernisation, maintenance and operation of PCT under the memorandum of understanding signed between Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia on Public-Private Partnership (PPP) last year.

In mid-August this year, the PPP Authority of Bangladesh signed a "Transaction Advisory Services Agreement" with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) of the World Bank Group on "Equip, Operate and Maintenance of Patenga Container Terminal".

According to PPP officials, IFC as an advisor of the Bangladesh government would formulate a business model through feasibility studies and determine the terms and conditions upon which the government would negotiate with the foreign firm interested in operating the new terminal.

During his visit to Saudi Arabia, the state minister for shipping will hold a bilateral meeting with the minister of communications of Saudi Arabia, the press release said.

Chowdhury left Dhaka for Saudi Arabia on October 10 at the invitation of Saudi Arabia's logistics minister. He is expected to return home on October 14.