[[color=green]color=blue]Russia is ready to participate in Bangladesh''s proposed nuclear power plant project if the government here makes a decision to put it into reality, reports UNB.
"The issue is quite complex and embraces various aspects:
technological, financial etc. Therefore, the matter needs a thorough study and comprehensive elaboration," Russian Ambassador Dr. Gennady P. Trotsenko said in an interview with UNB.
The Ambassador said it is well known that a substantial increase in power supply is a dire necessity for further dynamic development of the economy and improvement of lifestyle in Bangladesh. This is why the subject of nuclear power has become very topical.
"Anyway, Russia is ready to consider its participation in such a gigantic project if the government of Bangladesh makes a decision to put it into reality," he said.
Russian cooperation in Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant was discussed during Foreign Adviser Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury''s visit to Moscow. The mater was also raised during Russian Foreign Minister Sergey V. Lavrov''s meeting with Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed on the sidelines of the 62nd session of the UN General Assembly in New York.
During the interview, the Ambassador also spoke on bilateral trade, procurement of food grains, investment and migration of Bangladeshi workers to Russian Federation.
Asked about Bangladesh''s recent request to Russia to supply wheat and fertilizers to meet the growing demands here, Trotsenko said the Russian modern economic reality is such that the supply of these goods can be arranged only through the private sector.
He said the Embassy has assisted in establishing direct contacts between Bangladeshi entrepreneurs interested in wheat and fertilizer import with the respective Russian manufacturers and suppliers. He said some of the Bangladeshi companies have already signed a number of contracts to this effect.
Asked whether Russia would import more Bangladeshi products, including readymade garment, the Ambassador said recently Dhaka and Moscow witnessed a substantial growth in trade turnover between the two countries. Russian export presently accounts for 90 percent, but Russians would love to see more Bangladeshi goods on their expanding market.
He said nowadays Russia imports from Bangladesh knitwear, woven garments, home textile, jute yarn and twine, raw jute, leather, shrimps etc. Readymade garments, footwear and other items are considered to be of high demand among Russians. He hoped that in the coming years more and more relatively cheap but high quality Bangladeshi products would be procured by Russian companies.
The Ambassador said economic and trade cooperation between the two countries have also shown a manifold increase as he said within a short span of four years trade turnover rose from US$ 37 million in 2003 to nearly US$ 250 million last year.
He suggested establishment of logistic connectivity, including air transportation and direct banking interaction to boost the volume of bilateral trade.
Asked about recruitment of Bangladeshi workers for Russia, he said, according to international practice, the manpower export, as any other area of interaction between the countries, should be governed by proper bilateral agreements and arrangements.
On the basis of inter-governmental agreement of such kind, he said, the manpower from Bangladesh might be imported by Russia. Presently, he said there is no such agreement or arrangement between Russia and Bangladesh nor any negotiations between the official bodies of the two countries on this matter.
The Ambassador said the current economic situation in Russia requires foreign labour, particularly in agriculture and construction. But presently the major part of manpower to satisfy these needs comes from the former USSR republics.
About any specific plan of investment by Russian companies in prospective sectors of Bangladesh, the Ambassador said the Russian Embassy here has been doing its best to inform Russian firms and companies on the advantages to do business in Bangladesh underlining the attractiveness of the local market and investment projects.
Among the possible Russian investment projects, he mentioned expansion of the Siddhirganj thermal power plant, inland and offshore oil and gas exploration, participation in the construction of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant as well as the Dhaka underground railway.
Asked if Russia has any plan to develop power generation units under terms of build-own-operate, the Ambassador said the most remarkable results of Russian-Bangladeshi lasting cooperation are in the power sector.
He said the TPS Ghorasal, the largest power plant of Bangladesh with the total capacity of 950 MW and TPS in Siddhirganj (Unit 1) with 210 MW contribute more than a quarter of the total power output in Bangladesh. They proved to be one of the most reliable power stations in Bangladesh.
"No doubt, Russia is eager to continue cooperation in this field. Recently, the Russian government expressed a principled readiness to participate in construction of TPS Siddhirganj (Unit-2) along with provision of a state credit for that purpose. The terms of the contract are to be negotiated between the two sides," he noted.
The Russian envoy said along with traditional power generation some Russian companies are advancing new technologies to develop power plants based on not only on gas and coal, but also on alternative energy sources. They include, in particular, the small- and medium-size power units.
Last year, he said, Russian business delegations of "Tushinsky Machine-building Plant" and "Dalelectrosila" visited Bangladesh and suggested building hydro- and magnet-power plants of small and medium capacity[/color[/color]]
Subject: Russia ready to participate in nuke project 
Sun Jun 29, 2008 2:56 am
