Bangladesh secures $550M APM Terminals investment for Laldia terminal
The greenfield terminal will boost port capacity, create jobs, and enhance Bangladesh’s trade efficiency.
Bangladesh has secured a landmark investment exceeding $550 million from APM Terminals and local partner QNS Container Services Ltd for the development of the Laldia Container Terminal in Chattogram. The project, the largest Public Private Partnership (PPP) investment in the country’s history, will be fully designed, financed, built, and operated by the investors, marking a first-of-its-kind model for Bangladesh’s port infrastructure.
The concession agreement, signed with the Chittagong Port Authority (CPA), allows APM Terminals to operate the terminal for 30 years, with the possibility of extension based on performance indicators. The new terminal aims to expand the country’s annual port handling capacity by over 800,000 TEUs and accommodate vessels of up to 6,000 TEU, compared with the current limit of 2,800 TEU. This is expected to ease congestion, lower logistics costs, and boost Bangladesh’s export competitiveness.
Keith Svendsen, CEO of APM Terminals, said the project will support the growth of local manufacturers, exporters, and importers while creating skilled jobs and strengthening the region’s prosperity. Rear Admiral S. M. Moniruzzaman, Chairman of the CPA, described the terminal as a “new chapter” for Chattogram Port, enhancing trade flows and efficiency.
Professor Muhammad Yunus, Honourable Chief Adviser of Bangladesh, called the terminal the country’s first green port and Europe’s largest foreign direct investment in Bangladesh, highlighting its potential to reduce logistics bottlenecks and drive economic growth. Lars Løkke Rasmussen, Denmark’s Foreign Affairs Minister, noted that the investment reflects long-standing commercial ties and strong confidence in Bangladesh’s future. Nurul Qayyum Khan, Chairman of QNS Container Services Ltd., emphasised that the terminal demonstrates the power of combining international expertise with local entrepreneurship.
Construction of the deep-water terminal is expected to create over 1,000 jobs, with more than 500 permanent positions once operational. Training and apprenticeship programmes will support local talent development. The facility will follow internationally recognised safety and environmental standards and will be among South Asia’s first energy-efficient, low-emission terminals, featuring electrified cargo handling equipment, solar power installations, and shore power-ready systems to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, noise, and air pollution.
Scheduled to begin operations in 2030, the Laldia Container Terminal positions Bangladesh as a competitive maritime hub in South Asia while supporting sustainable growth and climate goals.
