Denmark-based APM Terminals, a subsidiary of the Maersk Group, is set to invest $800 million (over Tk 9,600 crore) in developing and operating the Laldiya Container Terminal (LCT) at the Port of Chattogram, marking one of the largest foreign direct investments in Bangladesh’s port sector.

According to Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) Executive Chairman Chowdhury Ashiq Mahmud bin Harun, a 30-year concession agreement between APM Terminals BV and the Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) is in the final stages of signing. He revealed the development at a media briefing held at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka on Wednesday.

Under the public-private partnership (PPP) model, APM Terminals will be responsible for the design, financing, construction, and operation of the terminal, while ownership will remain with the CPA.

Citing World Bank data (2024), the BIDA chairman said APM Terminals currently operates more than 60 terminals in 33 countries, including 10 of the world’s top 20 ports. He added that the company’s participation in the Laldiya project would bring world-class efficiency, technology, and expertise to Bangladesh’s maritime infrastructure.

The total investment, exceeding $800 million, will be the largest single European equity investment in Bangladesh. Once completed, the terminal’s annual container-handling capacity will rise by over 800,000 TEUs, boosting Chattogram port’s total capacity by around 40%. The facility is expected to become operational by 2030.

The project will follow a revenue-sharing model, allowing the CPA to earn a fixed dollar-based income per container, while the government will also benefit from increased tax, duty, and service revenues. During the construction and operational phases, the project is expected to generate 500–700 direct jobs and several thousand indirect employment opportunities.

“This project will take Bangladesh’s port and logistics sector to global standards. It is not just an infrastructure investment—it is a step toward future-ready trade connectivity,” said Ashiq Mahmud bin Harun.