Bangladesh has signed a milestone concession agreement with APM Terminals and local partner QNS Container Services Ltd. to develop and operate the new Laldia Container Terminal in Chattogram — a project valued at more than USD 550 million. The Public Private Partnership (PPP) deal is among the largest in the nation’s history and marks Bangladesh’s first fully investor-designed, financed, built and operated port terminal.
Under the 30-year concession, extendable based on performance, APM Terminals will develop a state-of-the-art facility designed to enhance national trade capacity and modernise the country’s maritime logistics. Keith Svendsen, CEO of APM Terminals, said the project reflects the company’s commitment to supporting Bangladesh’s economic growth and creating skilled jobs.
The Laldia Container Terminal forms part of a broader Sustainable Green Framework between Denmark and Bangladesh, promoting green investment and long-term economic cooperation. Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser, Professor Muhammad Yunus, described the project as a symbol of the country’s reform efforts and its largest European foreign direct investment, stating it will “unlock new capacity for exporters and strengthen global competitiveness”.
Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen highlighted Maersk’s longstanding role in Bangladesh’s trade sector, while CPA Chairman Rear Admiral S. M. Moniruzzaman said the terminal would significantly boost the port’s efficiency. QNS Chairman Nurul Qayyum Khan emphasised the collaboration as a model of international expertise and Bangladeshi entrepreneurship.
Set for completion in 2030, the terminal will add over 800,000 TEU to Bangladesh’s annual handling capacity and enable the Port of Chattogram to serve vessels of up to 6,000 TEU — more than double current limits. The development will ease congestion, reduce logistics costs and support key export sectors.
The project will create more than 1,500 direct jobs across construction and operations, alongside significant indirect employment. Designed as one of South Asia’s first low-emission, energy-efficient terminals, Laldia will feature electrified equipment, solar installations and shore-power-ready systems, advancing Bangladesh’s climate and sustainability ambitions.
