AP Moller Maersk, a Danish shipping and logistics company, will likely to invest roughly $800 million to construct the "Laldia Container Terminal" at Chattogram Port.

Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun, executive chairman of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA), made the disclosure while visiting the proposed terminal site at Patenga in Chattogram this morning.

The terminal, with a 616-metre length comprising three container jetties, would be built on 32 acres of land, he said.

"It would be a state-of-the-art port as well as a green port, and APM would require roughly $800 million to build it," he said.

The entire amount would be foreign direct investment and the Bangladesh government will not have to spend a single Taka, the chairman said.

He mentioned that the current volume of foreign direct investment (FDI) in Bangladesh is very small. The annual volume of equity, that is genuinely foreign investment, is not more than $700 million, he added.

Ashik said if a single project brings $800 million alone, and that too from a reputed company like APM, it would be very crucial for the economy as well as for the country's overall financial health.

"This company [APM] is globally well-reputed and their operational experience is also very good," he said.

Mentioning that 50 percent of the country's population is below 25 years of age -- which he termed as very unique -- he said the only way to ensure the future betterment of this young population is to turn Bangladesh into a manufacturing hub.

And to make this happen, port capacity enhancement is very important, Ashik added.

The government is planning to engage the world's top port operators to run the port facilities aiming to ensure the best utilisation of the limited port capacity, Ashik said, adding that "Our long-term ambition is to transform the country into a global manufacturing hub."

The primary requisite for this to make happen is the port capacity, since without it nothing can be done, he said.

The country's port capacity is very limited, he said, adding that even if the capacity is enhanced six times more, it would not match up to Vietnam's port capacity, as Vietnam has 44 ports.

"We have to use our limited port capacity in the most efficient and best way," he said.

To ensure the best port management is to engage the best organisations," he added.

The Bida chairman also visited the proposed site of the Bay Terminal and the largest terminal of the port, New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT).

Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam is accompanying the Bida chairman during the visit.