Denmark’s APM Terminals to invest record $550m in Bangladesh

Bangladesh is set to receive a record $550 million in foreign direct investment (FDI) from Denmark’s global port operator APM Terminals — marking the largest single European investment in the country’s history, according to the Public Private Partnership Authority (PPPA).

At a press briefing at the Foreign Service Academy on Wednesday, PPPA Chief Executive Officer Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun said APM Terminals will build a state-of-the-art container terminal at Laldia in Chattogram, investing around Tk 6,700 crore. The company will finance the entire project.

“This is the biggest-ever single investment from Europe in Bangladesh,” Ashik said, adding that a formal agreement will be signed next week. A high-level delegation from APM Terminals, accompanied by a Danish minister, will visit Dhaka to attend the signing ceremony.

Upon signing, APM Terminals will pay Bangladesh a Tk 250 crore signing bonus, he said.

The Laldia Container Terminal, built under the motto “Not for Sale – For Success and Growth,” will be capable of handling vessels twice the size of those currently operating at Chattogram Port. The terminal will have an annual capacity of at least 800,000 containers (TEUs).

Construction is scheduled to begin in 2026 and be completed by 2029. APM Terminals will operate the facility for 30 years, sharing profits with Bangladesh on a per-container basis. After the concession period, the government will review performance indicators to decide whether to extend the contract or appoint a new operator.

The project is expected to create 500 to 700 direct jobs, with additional opportunities for Bangladeshi workers to join APM Terminals’ international operations.

“APM’s investment is not purely commercial; it also reflects their social commitment to Bangladesh’s growth,” Ashik added.

Once operational, the Laldia Terminal will increase the country’s cargo handling capacity by 40%. The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has already been given a roadmap to prepare for the expected rise in trade volume.

To accommodate the additional traffic, the Roads and Highways Department has developed a master plan to ensure smooth container transport — with 70–80% via road and the remainder distributed between river and rail routes.

The government also aims to fully operationalise the Pangaon Inland Container Terminal to complement this effort.

Ashik noted that the landmark European investment has been discussed with political parties across the spectrum, all of whom have expressed their support.

Once launched, the Laldia Container Terminal will operate around the clock. With this and other upcoming port projects, Bangladesh’s overall port capacity is projected to expand sixfold within the next decade, he said.