Maersk Expresses Interest in Investing in Bangladesh's Shipbuilding Industry

Global shipping and logistics giant Maersk Line has expressed interest in making direct investments in Bangladesh's shipbuilding industry, while also exploring opportunities in the country's ship recycling sector, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Commerce.

The matter was discussed during a meeting on Saturday at the residence of Commerce, Industries, and Textiles and Jute Adviser Khandaker Abdul Muqtadir. The meeting was attended by Danish Ambassador to Bangladesh Christian Brix Møller and René Pil Pedersen, Managing Director of AP Moller Singapore Pte. Ltd., a subsidiary of Denmark-based AP Moller, the parent company of Maersk Line.

During the meeting, the Danish ambassador said Maersk is keen to invest directly in Bangladesh's shipbuilding industry. In response, the commerce adviser invited the company to expand its investment beyond shipbuilding to include Bangladesh's ship recycling sector.

He noted that Maersk operates one of the world's largest fleets of commercial vessels, making Bangladesh a promising destination not only for building new ships but also for environmentally sustainable and internationally compliant recycling of the company's aging vessels.

The meeting was also attended by Md. Firoz Uddin, Joint Secretary (FTA) at the Ministry of Commerce; Mahbuba Khatun Minu, Joint Secretary (FTA-2); Khairuzzaman, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Industries; Vivek Sharma, Head of Business Development, Public Policy and Regulatory Affairs for India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka at the AP Moller Maersk Group; Khalid Mustafiz Gaffar, Country Director (Public Affairs) of Maersk Bangladesh Limited; and Samina Ahsan Shahrukh, Senior Adviser for Trade, Investment and Danida Business at the Royal Danish Embassy.