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Commerce, Industries and Textiles Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir has underscored the strategic importance of Bangladesh’s ship recycling industry, describing it as a key contributor to the national economy with significant potential to generate employment and support industrial growth.
Speaking at a meeting with a delegation from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) at the Ministry of Commerce on Wednesday, the minister said the government is committed to transforming the sector into a safe, modern and environmentally sustainable industry that meets international standards.
Muktadir, who also serves as Jute Minister, said the ship recycling industry has become one of Bangladesh’s major industrial sectors by supplying raw materials to the steel and other downstream industries while creating jobs for thousands of workers.
He said the government has identified four priority areas to ensure the industry’s long-term sustainability: improving workplace safety, protecting the environment, introducing modern technologies and streamlining regulatory approval processes.
The minister noted that JICA’s ongoing Ship Recycling Project is assisting Bangladesh through assessments of ship recycling yards, stakeholder training, the development of modern operational guidelines, certification of Ship Recycling Facility Plans (SRFPs) and improvements in the approval process for Ship Recycling Plans (SRPs).
He also announced that the government is introducing a One-Stop Service online platform to simplify administrative procedures and accelerate approvals for industry-related services.
Highlighting the government’s broader industrial strategy, Muktadir said small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) would receive technology, training and skills development support to help them integrate into global industrial supply chains.
“Our goal is to strengthen the capacity of local entrepreneurs and connect them to the international industrial system. With JICA’s continued support, Bangladesh’s industrial sector will become more competitive,” he said.
JICA Chief Representative in Bangladesh Takahashi Junko reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to helping Bangladesh develop a ship recycling industry that complies with international environmental and occupational safety standards.
The meeting was also attended by Bangladesh Ship Recycling Board Director General ASM Shafiul Alam Talukdar and Commerce Ministry Joint Secretary Mahbuba Khatun Minu, among other senior officials.