The authorities in Bangladesh recently met global ports and terminal operator APM Terminals to deepen the cooperation on maritime infrastructure in the country.
Company representatives, with Danish Ambassador to Bangladesh Winnie Estrup Petersen, had a discussion with State Minister for Shipping Minister Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, Shipping Secretary Mohammed Mezbah Uddin Chowdhury, Chittagong Port Authority Chairman Rear Admiral M Shahjahan, Public Private Partnerships Authority CEO Sultana Afroz and Prime Minister’s Office Principal Secretary Dr Ahmad Kaikaus.
APM Terminals is known for providing superior port logistics and container terminal operations globally to shipping lines, read a press release issued Sunday.
Aiming to improve supply chain efficiency, the company considers the Patenga Container Terminal a crucial enabler for local and global growth and a key element of meeting the country’s export ambitions.
Specifically, the company believes the container terminal has the potential to alleviate many of the constraints that adversely impact the Chittagong seaport today, hindering the future economic growth of Bangladesh.
Ambassador Petersen said: ‘‘Trade between Denmark and Bangladesh is centered around the transfer of climate-friendly know-how and cutting-edge technologies.
“It is an effective way to accelerate Bangladesh’s green economic transition and build sustainable economic competitiveness, especially for access to the European markets, by leveraging public-private-partnership.’’
APM Terminals Global Head of Corporate Development Martijn van Dongen said the Chittagong seaport is currently utilized at over 100% of its capacity, which is not a sustainable solution matching the country’s growth ambitions.
“We believe that by developing a new terminal in Patenga together with our Bangladeshi partners, we can provide a viable and much needed infrastructure solution with a positive economic impact.”
APM Terminals said it is committed to making the new terminal operational in the shortest time possible.
European investment in port infrastructure in Bangladesh is expected to invite greater foreign direct investment.
It is also an opportunity for Denmark and Bangladesh to strengthen relations by realizing a novel public-private partnership project based on shared maritime roots, said the release.
