The government has again carried forward Tk 3,000 crore for public-private partnership initiatives in the budget for next financial year 2014-2015 from the current FY as there has virtually been no implementation of the projects. Finance minister AMA Muhith in his speech for the proposed budget in the parliament on Thursday said 34 projects under six sectors had been proved in principle and advisers or consultants had been engaged for 33 projects. ‘In fact, this is the first step towards project implementation,’ he said.
Although Muhith first brought PPP initiative in the budget frame in the FY10, he has little success implementing any project till today.
A finance ministry official earlier said that only Tk 100 crore of the allocation for the current FY had been utilised.
He also said most private sector investors often failed to submit strong proposals, which did not get approved and the funds remained unutilised.
Businesses, however, recently blamed lack of cooperation and trust between the public and private sectors for slow implementation of the PPP programmes.
‘Entrepreneurs do not know the details of PPP projects as there is a lack of coordination and trust between the public and private sectors,’ said Abdus Salam, director of the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
DCCI president Mohammad Shahjahan Khan stressed on finalisation of the PPP law within a shortest possible time and sought more active PPP initiatives in building sea ports, railway development, waste management and tourism sector.
Dhaka Elevated Expressway, two jetties at Mongla port, hi-tech park at Kaliakoir, Dhaka-Chittagong access controlled highway and third sea port are on the list of PPP presented by Muhith in the budget proposal for the FY15.
-With New Age input
