DP World Signs 15-Year Concession for New Mooring Terminal in Chittagong

The Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) and DP World signed a 15-year concession agreement for the operation and maintenance of the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT), including its off-dock container yard (NCT OCY), at the Port of Chittagong, Bangladesh. The agreement falls under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) scheme and seeks to improve the terminal's performance, strengthen the country's logistics and trade capabilities, and boost connectivity with regional and global markets.

The agreement was signed in Dhaka on October 8, 2026, by Rear Admiral S. M. Moniruzzaman, Chairman of the Chittagong Port Authority, and Essa Kazim, Chairman of DP World. Also present at the ceremony were Shaikh Rabiul Alam, Minister of Shipping of Bangladesh; Ashik Chowdhury, Chairman of Invest Bangladesh; Yuvraj Narayan, Group COO of DP World; and Rizwan Soomar, CEO and Managing Director of DP World for the Subcontinent, Central Asia, Levant and Egypt region, among other officials and business leaders.

The terminal will remain under the ownership of the Chittagong Port Authority, while DP World will be responsible for its operation and maintenance throughout the 15-year concession period. The company will connect the facility to its international network, which it stated includes more than 60 ports and terminals and handles around 10% of global container traffic, bringing end-to-end operational expertise, technology and logistics capabilities.

Moniruzzaman noted that the partnership reflects Bangladesh's commitment to strengthening its maritime and trade infrastructure through the PPP scheme, and that it will help ease logistics constraints and create a stronger platform for long-term investment and economic growth. For his part, Essa Kazim stated that DP World will connect the terminal to its global network of ports, logistics infrastructure and supply chain services, combining operational expertise and technology to boost trade and attract investment. Ashik Chowdhury, of Invest Bangladesh, said the goal is to achieve faster operations, greater connectivity and higher standards at one of the country's main trade gateways.

The development plan includes upgrades to the terminal's civil infrastructure and equipment, the incorporation of digital solutions, and operational improvements focused on berth planning, yard management, equipment utilization, preventive maintenance, safety and sustainability. It also envisions training for the local workforce, skills development and the adoption of international operating practices, which would create opportunities for local companies and workers within regional and global supply chains. The agreement builds on the memorandum of understanding signed in 2019 between the Government of Dubai and the Public-Private Partnership Authority of the Prime Minister's Office of Bangladesh, aimed at advancing strategic infrastructure projects in the country.