Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and CEO of DP World, met Chief Adviser of the interim government Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus at the state guest house Jamuna in Dhaka on Wednesday (Apr 9) to discuss strategic investment opportunities in Bangladesh, particularly in the country's port and logistics infrastructure, local media reported.
The meeting followed an earlier conversation between the two in Davos, where the DP World chief had expressed interest in investing in the New Mooring Container Terminal in Chattogram.
The proposed investment aims to reduce congestion at Chittagong Port, lower carbon emissions and significantly boost the efficiency of Bangladesh's key maritime gateway. "This is a land of opportunities," said Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus. "Come to Bangladesh and let's make this happen," he said.
Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem reaffirmed his company's commitment, stating, "We are looking forward to this partnership. Your prosperity is our prosperity. From Chittagong to Dubai to Africa-this is our shared dream".
The Chief Adviser urged DP World to consider broader collaboration in Bangladesh's growing sectors, including fisheries, agro-processing and halal meat exports. He also called for ensuring proper skills development for Bangladeshi workers. "It's our responsibility to provide proper training to our workforce, and we will make sure it happens," Prof. Yunus assured.
The DP World chief responded positively, stating, the UAE authorities were actively working on visa facilitation and overall support, especially for skilled workers from Bangladesh. He also revealed DP World's plan to introduce a "Bangladesh Mart" in their home country, following the success of their Chinese and Indian trade marts. "We want to showcase Bangladeshi products-wood, marble, agricultural goods-and bring them to the world," he added.
Special Envoy for International Affairs Lutfey Siddiqi, who also attended the meeting, noted, "We are working on resolving the visa issues for general Bangladeshi citizens, and we hope a solution will come soon".
The meeting was told that the two UAE companies had recently recruited nearly 500 workers from Bangladesh.
DP World, a leading global logistics company based in Dubai, is known for its expertise in port development, maritime services, logistics and technology-driven trade facilitation.
SDG Coordinator Lamiya Morshed was also present at the meeting.
