Major Port Operators Plan Big Investments in Bangladesh

Robert Maersk Uggla, Chair of Danish shipping and logistics company A.P. Moller – Maersk, calls on Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus during WEF Summit at Davos, Switzerland, on Thursday. Photo: Chief Adviser GOB Facebook

The discussions took place when Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, CEO of DP World, and Robert Maersk Uggla, Chair of A.P. Moller-Maersk, met with Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus in Davos, Switzerland, during the World Economic Forum Summit, according to Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder.

Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem emphasized DP World's interest in investing in the New Mooring Container Terminal near Chittagong Port. He highlighted that such an investment would help alleviate congestion, reduce emissions, and increase the port's efficiency. He also stressed that DP World’s investments in other countries had resulted in increased Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and pollution reduction.

Bin Sulayem further proposed the introduction of a digital customs system at Chittagong Port to minimize corruption. Additionally, he expressed interest in investing in Inland Container Depots in Bangladesh.

In response, the Chief Adviser shared Bangladesh’s ambition to enhance Chittagong Port’s efficiency, making it a regional export hub capable of handling containers for neighboring countries such as India, Nepal, and Bhutan. He stressed the urgency, saying, "Time is a cost."

Meanwhile, Robert Maersk Uggla expressed A.P. Moller-Maersk’s interest in developing the Laldia Container Terminal, near Chittagong, into a green port. Drawing from their successful projects in Morocco and Oman, Uggla noted that their investment had transformed Salalah Port into one of the world’s best.

The Chief Adviser welcomed the proposals, inviting both companies to visit Dhaka with concrete investment plans. He reiterated the importance of building a network of ports along the Bay of Bengal to fully leverage Bangladesh's potential as a regional business hub.