Condition of CTG port

The country's premium sea port in Chittagong is likely to have Malaysia's Penang sea port as its 'sister' to enhance trade and relationships between two nations. Shipping minister Shahjahan Khan, now leading a delegation to Malaysia, welcomed the suggestion of making Chittagong port as 'sister port' of the Malaysian port by Penang Port Authority at a meeting, according to messages received in Dhaka Tuesday. 'We welcome the idea of a sister port relationship to enhance co-operation and increase trade and commerce between our two countries,' the Malaysian media quoting Khan said. Khan said that he was expecting to strike a deal in this regard after approval from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The government has taken the initiative to develop Chittagong port as a regional hub to cater the needs of neighbours like India, Nepal and Bhutan. Penang Port Commission chairman Tan Cheng Liang Tan said the deal could be signed soon as it would help enhance the development of the ports. 'If we sign the memorandum of understanding with Chittagong port, it will help strengthen the relationships between the two nations in terms of port operations,' she added. She said Penang port's handling capacity increased by 3.1 per cent to 958,476 twenty-foot containers last year from 929,639 TEUs in 2008.