The Indian state is winning back-to-back port deals with neighbouring countries.
Following successful agreements for Chabahar in Iran and Sittwe in Myanmar, state-backed India Ports Global Ltd (IPGL) has just won a tender to run a terminal at Mongla port in Bangladesh.
IGPL is part of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and has come to prominence this year.
Bangladeshi ports have been groaning under soaring traffic volumes in recent years, in line with the country’s emergence as a significant exporter, particularly for garments. Significant expansion has been earmarked for all of the country’s major ports.
Mongla is Bangladesh’s second-largest port. It lies close to the shore of the Bay of Bengal and the Pashur River.
India’s shipping minister, Sarbananda Sonowal, was in Iran last week for the official signing of a 10-year contract for IPGL to run Chabahar port, a giant complex that has been on the drawing board for more than a decade.