The United Arab Emirates-based DP World and Denmark-based AP Moller-Maersk expressed interest in making big investments in Bangladesh's shipping industry to help the country build new ports along the coast of the Bay of Bengal and become a major global export hub.

AP Moller-Maersk is a Danish shipping and logistics company while DP World is a leading provider of smart logistics solutions, enabling the flow of trade across the globe.

The two leading companies came up with the proposals when Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of DP World, and Robert Maersk Uggla, Chair of AP Moller-Maersk, met Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus in the Swiss city during the World Economic Forum annual meeting.

Yunus invited the DP World and AP Moller-Maersk officials to visit Dhaka with concrete investment proposals.

"We have to build a series of ports along the coast of the Bay of Bengal to use our full potential as a regional business hub," said the chief adviser, welcoming FDI for capacity building of Bangladesh ports.

The DP World CEO said they want to invest in New Mooring Container Terminal, aiming to reduce congestion in Chattogram port, reduce emissions, and boost the efficiency of the port.

The CEO of the UAE-based logistics company expressed optimism that investment in the New Mooring Container Terminal would help Bangladesh attract more foreign direct investment (FDI) and reduce pollution.

It happened in every country where DP World invested, Sulayem told the chief adviser, adding that they also wanted to invest in Bangladesh in 2022 but were snubbed by the then government, chief adviser's deputy press secretary told UNB.

Sulayem said they also want to introduce a digital online customs procedure in Chattogram port, which would help reduce corruption drastically.

He said they also want to invest in inline container depots in Bangladesh.

The chief adviser told Sulayem that Bangladesh wants to make Chattogram port more efficient and build more ports along the coast of the Bay of Bengal.

"We have to do it as our future lies with the Chittagong Port. We want to make it the biggest port in the region," said the chief adviser.

Yunus said Bangladesh wants to increase the efficiency of Chattogram port, as the country believes it can be a regional hub for exports handling containers for northeast Indian states and Nepal and Bhutan, among others. "We have to do it fast because time is a cost."

Robert Maersk Uggla said they want to invest in Laldia container terminal, near Chattogram port, and transform it into a green port with their technical support.

He said they implemented similar projects in Morocco and Oman.

Salalah Port of Oman has become one of the best ports in the world with their investment, Uggla told the chief adviser.