"We won the tender because PTINKA could meet technical as well as quality requirements sought by the government of Bangladesh," the commercial and technology director of the state-owned railway industry, Yunendar Aryo Handoko, told newsmen here on Friday.
He said the price offered by PT INKA could also compete with what was quoted by rivals from China and India. Bangladesh also could not meet the prices offered by Japan and a number of European countries.
Yunendar said the tender contract was received in November 2014 and deliveries would be made in stages until the end of 2016.
"In the initial stage, 11 of the 150 coaches ordered would be delivered in February 2016. The rest will be delivered in stages until the end of 2016, according to the contract, " he said.
He said construction of the coaches to be delivered as the first tranche was 70 percent over and he was optimistic that the first delivery would be made in February 2016.
To check the progress of the construction, a Bangladeshi railway delegation visited PT INKA twice, in January 2015 and November 20, 2015.
"The delegation from Bangladesh visited PT INKA to see the development of the construction of the coaches as well as to approve components that would be used in the coaches," he said.
Yunendar said the visit of the Bangladeshi delegation was very important for PT INKA because if the order could be fulfilled smoothly, PT INKA would also get an order to build 250 more units.
"Right now, preparations are still being made for the next tender for the construction of 250 units of coaches. The contract is valued at US$150 million," he said.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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