Denmark-based APM Terminals will develop and operate the Laldia Container Terminal (LCT) at Chattogram Port for 30 years under a public-private partnership (PPP), Public Private Partnership Authority CEO Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun announced on Wednesday.

Speaking at a press conference at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka, following cabinet committee approval, Ashik Mahmud confirmed that ownership of the port will remain with the Chattogram Port Authority (CPA), while APM Terminals, in partnership with a local joint venture, will manage construction, operations, and terminal management.

APM Terminals, a subsidiary of AP Moller – Maersk, operates 60 terminals across 33 countries and is majority-controlled by the AP Moller Foundation.

The project is expected to ease the capital expenditure burden for Bangladesh, with APM Terminals investing $550 million to construct a greenfield port terminal—the largest European equity investment in the country to date.

The final agreement between Bangladesh and the AP Moller Foundation is scheduled for signing next week, with an initial payment of Tk 250 crore.

Construction of the terminal, jetties, and related facilities is expected to take three years, with operations commencing in 2029-2030.

The LCT is projected to handle over 800,000 TEUs annually—44 per cent above the current capacity—with bonus incentives linked to container throughput.

International Finance Corporation (IFC) served as transaction adviser, ensuring compliance with global environmental, health, safety, and security standards.

The project is expected to create 500–700 direct jobs, alongside thousands of indirect roles in construction, trucking, warehousing, freight forwarding, and local SMEs, with potential opportunities for Bangladeshi nationals at other APM-operated ports.

‘The Laldia project will introduce world-class technology and operational excellence, preparing Bangladesh’s logistics sector for the post-LDC era,’ Ashik Mahmud said.

He highlighted benefits including accommodation for large container vessels, reduced per-unit freight costs, and direct global shipping connectivity.

Developed under a revenue-sharing concession model, the project will generate stable foreign-currency earnings for Bangladesh while minimising public capital expenditure.

The LCT will enable 24/7 port operations with night navigation capabilities, a first for the country.

Located midway between the Bay of Bengal and Chattogram’s main port, the LCT will be five kilometres from the sea and nine kilometres from the main port.

Authorities have submitted a roadmap to the National Board of Revenue to expand customs capacity by 40 per cent and will coordinate with Roads and Highways, Bangladesh Railway, and inland waterways to reduce traffic congestion by at least 10 per cent.

Ashik Mahmud said Bangladesh’s potential to increase handling capacity sixfold by tackling corruption and improving efficiency, emphasising the importance of healthy competition among terminals to attract foreign operators.

CPA chairman SM Moniruzzaman described the LCT as a ‘green port’ that could position Bangladesh as a regional pioneer, improving speed and lead times by 10–15 days and attracting investment in high-end products.

‘Such capacity will accelerate Bangladesh’s potential as a regional port,’ he added.