Maersk Line Keen to Invest in Bangladesh’s Shipbuilding Sector

Global shipping and logistics giant Maersk Line has expressed interest in making direct investments in Bangladesh’s shipbuilding industry.

The issue was discussed at a meeting held Saturday at the residence of Commerce, Industry, and Textiles and Jute Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir.

Danish Ambassador to Bangladesh Christian Brix Moller and Rene Pil Pedersen, managing director of A.P. Moller Singapore Pte Ltd, attended the meeting.

During the discussion, Minister Muktadir also urged Maersk to expand its investment into Bangladesh’s ship recycling industry alongside shipbuilding.

The minister said Maersk operates a large fleet of vessels worldwide, making Bangladesh a promising hub for both environmentally sound, internationally compliant ship recycling and the construction of new vessels.

The Danish ambassador said Maersk is interested in directly investing in Bangladesh’s shipbuilding sector. The Danish company has long operated ships and conducted shipping and logistics businesses globally.

The meeting noted that Bangladesh has extensive experience and strong potential in both shipbuilding and ship recycling. Attracting large-scale international investment to these sectors could accelerate industrialisation and help tap the country’s blue-economy potential.

Such investment could also create jobs, facilitate technology and skills transfer, and contribute to the development of related industries.

Joint Secretary (FTA) Md Firoz Uddin, Joint Secretary (FTA-2) Mahbuba Khatun Minu, Industry Ministry Joint Secretary Khairuzzaman, Vivek Sharma, head of business development, public policy and regulatory affairs for India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka at the A.P. Moller Maersk Group, Khalid Mustafiz Gaffar, country director (public affairs) of Maersk Bangladesh Ltd, and Samina Ahsan Shahrukh, senior adviser for trade, investment and Danida Business at the Royal Danish Embassy, were also present.