Written by The Banking Post
Danish shipping giant Maersk is set to invest US$550 million to develop and operate the Laldia Container Terminal (LCT) in Chattogram — a landmark public-private partnership expected to reshape Bangladesh’s port and logistics landscape.
The 30-year concession agreement will be signed next week between APM Terminals B.V., a subsidiary of A.P. Møller-Maersk, and the Chittagong Port Authority (CPA). Under the deal, APM Terminals will design, finance, build, and operate the new facility without any financial contribution from the government.
“This entire amount will come in as foreign direct investment over the next three years — the largest-ever European investment in Bangladesh,” said Chowdhury Ashik Bin Haroon, Chairman of the PPP Authority and Executive Chairman of BIDA.
A global player joins Bangladesh’s port network
Located on the banks of the Karnaphuli River, the new terminal will add more than 800,000 TEUs of annual container-handling capacity — a 44% boost to Chattogram Port’s throughput. It will feature 24-hour operations, advanced automation, and night navigation for large vessels.
“Ownership will remain with CPA,” Haroon explained. “APM Terminals and its local partner will manage construction and operations. After 30 years, the concession can be extended based on performance, or the facility will revert to CPA.”
As part of the agreement, APM Terminals will pay Tk 250 crore in signing money to CPA.
A senior CPA official said the partnership would bring world-class port management to Bangladesh, reducing congestion, cutting vessel-waiting times, and making exports more competitive. “It will make our main trade gateway more efficient, sustainable, and globally connected,” he said.
Economic impact and employment
The project will generate 500–700 direct jobs and thousands more indirect opportunities in logistics, warehousing, trucking, and freight forwarding. Maersk also plans to train Bangladeshi engineers and managers in port operations and digital logistics, helping build a globally skilled maritime workforce.
The LCT, developed under a revenue-sharing concession model, will provide the CPA with income in US dollars per TEU handled, strengthening Bangladesh’s foreign-currency earnings.
A boost for exports and investment confidence
Economists say the project could become a cornerstone of Bangladesh’s post-LDC transformation, reducing freight costs and improving export reliability. Faster vessel turnaround and direct connectivity with major routes in Europe, the Middle East, and East Asia are expected to benefit key sectors such as garments, agro-processing, and light engineering.
APM Terminals operates more than 60 ports in 33 countries, including several of the world’s top-performing terminals. Its entry into Bangladesh marks a major vote of confidence in the country’s logistics sector — and a potential magnet for future foreign investment.
