Bangladesh has moved forward with a major addition to its maritime and logistics capabilities following the signing of a concession agreement for the new Laldia Container Terminal in Chattogram. Valued at more than USD 550 million, the development stands among the most significant Public Private Partnership investments the country has undertaken.
The agreement brings together the Chittagong Port Authority (CPA), APM Terminals, a business unit of A.P. Moller-Maersk, and local partner QNS Container Services Ltd. Under the concession terms, APM Terminals will operate the facility for 30 years, with the option to extend based on performance results. Investors will design, finance, construct and operate the terminal in full, introducing a model not previously applied to Bangladesh’s port sector.
“It is with great honour that we enter this agreement with Bangladesh, which underscores the great potential that this important market has. This greenfield project enables us to play an active role in supporting the growth of the local manufacturers, exporters, importers and the broader Bangladeshi economy. We are strengthening our commitment to the country with the aim of creating a safe and efficient terminal as well as creating skilled jobs for the future prosperity of the region.”
– Keith Svendsen, CEO of APM Terminals.
The terminal is a key component of the Sustainable Green Framework Engagement between Denmark and Bangladesh, which focuses on encouraging environmentally responsible investment, job creation and long-term bilateral economic cooperation.
“The Laldia Container Terminal demonstrates Bangladesh’s commitment to reform, transparency and investment-friendly growth. Laldia will be the country’s first green port and the single largest European foreign direct investment in Bangladesh. This landmark collaboration with APM Terminals will unlock new capacity for our exporters, reduce logistics bottlenecks and enhance our competitiveness in global markets. We look forward to seeing this world-class terminal drive new opportunities for our people and our economy over the next decades.”
– Professor Muhammad Yunus, Honourable Chief Adviser of the Government of Bangladesh.
“Maersk has been a long-standing partner to Bangladesh and an important driver of the strong commercial ties between our two countries. Today the company handles almost 30% of all containers in and out of Bangladesh. The investment in Laldia container terminal by APM Terminals is a powerful symbol of enduring and real partnership and shows strong confidence in Bangladesh’s future.”
– Lars Løkke Rasmussen, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Denmark.
“The Laldia Container Terminal will usher in a new chapter in our port ecosystem. Through this project, the capacity and efficiency of Chittagong Port will increase significantly, which will make the country’s trade flows more dynamic.”
– Rear Admiral S. M. Moniruzzaman, Chairman of the Chittagong Port Authority.
“We are proud to partner in a project that will redefine Bangladesh’s port infrastructure and demonstrate the strength of local enterprise in driving national progress. The Laldia Container Terminal is a testament to what can be achieved when international expertise and Bangladeshi entrepreneurship come together with a shared vision for sustainable growth. It will offer more robust and efficient supply chains for Bangladeshi exporters and importers and reduce the overall cost of doing business. Bangladesh is one of the fastest growing economies in the world, and with the graduation from LDC just around the corner, it’s an ideal time for Bangladesh to experience the reduced cost of trade from cutting-edge technology and best practices of an ‘international standard’ terminal operator.”
– Nurul Qayyum Khan, Chairman of QNS Container Services Ltd.
Once operational in 2030, the facility is projected to raise Bangladesh’s annual port capacity by more than 800,000 TEUs, enhancing the country’s trade efficiency and supporting major export industries such as textiles, apparel and manufacturing.
The new deep-water terminal will ultimately enable the Port of Chattogram to handle vessels up to 6,000 TEU, more than double its current limit. This capability is expected to reduce congestion, lower logistics costs and strengthen the competitiveness of Bangladesh’s export-driven economy.
Construction is anticipated to generate more than 1,000 jobs, with another 500 positions created when the facility becomes operational. Additional employment is likely to emerge indirectly across manufacturing, logistics and other related sectors, supported by skills training and development programmes implemented by APM Terminals.
The project also aims to become one of the region’s earliest low-emission, energy-efficient terminals, aligning with Bangladesh’s climate strategy. Planned features include electrified cargo handling equipment, solar power installations and shore-power-ready systems that allow vessels to plug into the grid. These measures are designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, noise and air pollution, benefitting both workers and surrounding communities.
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