$800m FDI announced for Laldia Port expansion
Staff Reporter :
Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun, Executive Chairman of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA), announced on Thursday that an $800 million investment will be allocated to develop the existing container terminal at Laldia Char, situated on the south-eastern bank of the Karnaphuli River in Chattogram.
“Our annual foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows typically remain below 700 million. Therefore, a single project attracting 800 million is a major milestone for our economy,” he stated. “This initiative will create significant employment opportunities, and BIDA is closely monitoring its progress.”
Harun, who also serves as the Executive Chairman of the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA), made these remarks during a press briefing following an inspection visit to Laldia Char in Patenga earlier in the day.
The visit was attended by Shafiqul Alam, Press Secretary to the Chief Advisor; Mohammad Abul Kalam Azad Majumder, Deputy Press Secretary; and Rear Admiral SM Moniruzzaman, Chairman of the Chattogram Port Authority (CPA).
After assessing the New Mooring Container Terminal at Chittagong Port, Harun remarked, “While Dhaka is our political capital, Chattogram is poised to become our commercial capital. It lies at the heart of Bangladesh’s economic ambitions and will play a pivotal role in shaping the nation’s future.”
He emphasised that job creation, particularly for Chattogram’s residents, remains a key priority. “Economic development must be a central focus for all governments. By transforming our port terminals into world-class facilities, we can substantially boost business growth,” he added.
Harun is leading a day-long visit to Chattogram with senior officials to evaluate investment and development opportunities in critical port and shipping infrastructure. The visit precedes Chief Advisor Professor Muhammad Yunus’s scheduled trip to Chattogram on 14 May, during which he will further assess regional investment prospects.
Highlighting the project’s significance, Harun confirmed that no domestic investment from Bangladesh is involved in the venture. “This represents a historic opportunity for the country. Our goal is to position Bangladesh as a global manufacturing hub, and the $800 million investment will develop Laldia into a green port,” he said.
He stressed the need for long-term planning and port capacity expansion. “Even if we increase our port capacity sixfold, we would still trail behind nations like Vietnam. Therefore, collaboration with leading global institutions is essential to optimise our limited space.”
Harun underscored the importance of strategic partnerships in port development, stating, “To establish Bangladesh as a manufacturing hub, we must work closely with top-tier port management entities.”
He also revealed that a committee has been formed to explore the establishment of a free trade zone, with Anwara under consideration as a potential location.
APM Terminals, a subsidiary of AP Moller-Maersk, commenced operations at Laldia Terminal in 2024. While initial estimates projected an investment of 300-400 million, BEZA’s chairman confirmed that the figure has now risen to 800 million.
The development will proceed under a public-private partnership (PPP) and a government-to-government (G2G) arrangement, following the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model.
This substantial investment is expected to enhance Bangladesh’s trade infrastructure, bolster economic growth, and generate extensive employment opportunities, reinforcing Chattogram’s role as a key commercial hub.