The Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) has announced that Danish shipping giant AP Moller Maersk is poised to invest approximately US $ 800 million to develop the new Laldia Container Terminal at Chittagong Port. The project, which was disclosed during a site visit by BIDA Executive Chairman Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun, aims to establish a state-of-the-art, environmentally friendly port facility.
The proposed terminal will span 32 acres and feature three container jetties stretching 616 meters. According to Harun, the entire investment will be foreign direct investment (FDI), with no financial burden on the Bangladesh government.
He emphasised that Bangladesh’s current annual FDI inflow is around US $ 700 million, highlighting the importance of such high-value projects for economic growth.
Harun also underscored the strategic importance of port capacity enhancement in transforming Bangladesh into a manufacturing hub. “Our young population, with 50 per cent under 25 years of age, presents a huge opportunity. To harness this, we need to develop our port infrastructure,” he said. The Government is considering engaging top international port operators to optimize port management and utilisation.
While acknowledging the limited current port capacity, Harun pointed out that even a sixfold increase would still fall short of Vietnam’s port capacity, which includes 44 ports. “Efficient use of our existing capacity and attracting top global operators are key to our long-term vision of becoming a global manufacturing hub,” he added.
During the visit, Harun also toured the proposed site for the Bay Terminal and the NCT (New Mooring Container Terminal), the largest terminal at Chittagong Port. The initiative underscores Bangladesh’s commitment to modernizing its port infrastructure to support economic development and regional competitiveness.
Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam accompanied Harun during the site visits.
