Ham Jin Gyu, CEO of Korea Expressway Corporation (KEC), which is responsible for the development and operation of expressways in Korea and the operation of Bangladesh's first expressway and the Padma Bridge, visited Bangladesh on May 19th.
Established in 1969 by the Korean government, KEC is a large public institution with total assets of $61 billion and an annual budget of $11 billion, specializing in investment, construction management, and operation of expressways. It currently manages over 4,200 km of high-standard roads, contributing to significant economic growth in Korea by enhancing citizens' mobility and promoting logistics. Building on this experience, in 2014, KEC participated in the supervision of the construction of the Padma Bridge, Bangladesh's largest national project, contributing significantly to the successful completion of this highly challenging mega-construction project. Furthermore, upon its completion in 2022, KEC was selected as the operator and maintainer of the Padma Bridge and N8 Expressway, ensuring their stable operation, and making significant contributions to modernizing Bangladesh's road system.
Through the operation and maintenance of the Padma Bridge and N8 Expressway, KEC introduced Korea's toll collection and intelligent transportation management systems, maximizing convenience for road users and efficiently improving toll collection operations. These technologies greatly enhance user satisfaction and elevate the level of technology in the relevant field in Bangladesh.
During this visit, the CEO of KEC inspected the progress of ongoing projects through field visits and encouraged the working staff. Furthermore, to commemorate his first visit and enhance cooperation between Korea and Bangladesh, a commemorative tree planting event was held in front of the Daleshori Tollgate office. In addition to these two projects, KEC is also involved in investment projects related to the construction and operation of the Meghna Bridge and the Dhaka-Mymensingh Expressway. The successful commencement of these two projects is expected to further strengthen economic development in Bangladesh and enhance cooperation between the two countries.
In an interview with a local journalist, CEO Ham Jin Gyu stated, "We will exert efforts to apply Korea's experience and advanced technology to the Padma Bridge and N8 Expressway, allowing the people of Bangladesh to use the roads more comfortably and safely. We will also strive to contribute to Bangladesh's economic growth through more road infrastructure projects in the future."
