Shipping Adviser Brigadier General (retd) Dr M Sakhawat Hussain on Thursday urged local and foreign investors to invest in the country's maritime and offshore industry and avail huge opportunities.

He made the call while inaugurating the 6th edition of an international exhibition titled “Bangladesh International Marine and Offshore Expo (BIMOX 2024).” The exhibition has been inaugurated at International Convention City Bashundhara (ICCB) in the capital with a focus on themes like “Ship Building”, “Ship Recycling”, “Offshore Oil and Gas Support”, “Shipping, Logistics and Port”, “Fishing Vessels, Fishery” and “Process Automation.”

Savor International Limited has organised the exhibition in order to demonstrate before the general people new innovative technologies, materials, equipment, and methods in concerned sectors.

"Bangladesh is a unique place in the world. The country has the world's largest bay. Besides, there are a lot of workers as well as river and sea ports. One-third people are connected to the river and sea. So, the industry eyes huge opportunity. We will welcome all investors here," Sakhawat said.

The adviser noted that Bangladesh will be an efficient shipbuilding nation. "Now we need collaboration among experts and other stakeholders to grow the industry. We are now very transparent," he also said.

Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (M) Rear Admiral Khandakar Akhter Hossain, Danish Ambassador Christian Brix Møller, Dutch Embassy Head of Mission André Carstens, Swedish Embassy high official Lovisa Hofmann, and Department of Shipping Director General Commodore Mohammad Maksud Alam.

From the Bangladesh business community present were: China Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Mohd Khorshed Alam as well as Association of Export Oriented Shipbuilding Industries President Dr Abdullahel Bari. From Savor International Limited, Chairman Amirul Islam, and Managing Director Md Faizul Alam were present.

The exhibition will stay open from 10:00am to 7:00pm every day till 9 November.

In this exhibition, companies from 15 different countries, including Bangladesh, have put on stunning displays of their products, technologies and services in more than 180 booths. A large number of people have been visiting the exhibition.