📊 Bangladesh Opens Logistics Sector with 100% Foreign Ownership

Bangladesh has scrapped its long-standing cap on foreign ownership for private Inland Container Depots (ICDs) and off-dock facilities to boost foreign direct investment (FDI) and modernise its trade-support infrastructure. • The Policy Shift: Effective 1 July 2026, foreign investors can own 100% of private ICD and off-dock operations. Previously, international operators were restricted to joint ventures with majority local ownership. • Current Capacity: Bangladesh currently has 24 private ICDs with a combined storage capacity of 106,000 TEUs. They handle ~90,000 export, 50,000 import, and 60,000 empty containers monthly. 3 to 4 more ICDs are in the pipeline over the next two years to meet national demand through 2030. • Expected Benefits: The entry of global operators (e.g., DP World, PSA Singapore, APM Terminals) is expected to drive technology transfer, digital integration, automated management systems, and advanced workforce training. • Key Challenges: Industry stakeholders caution that liberalisation alone won't guarantee inflows. Bangladesh must address operational bottlenecks at Chattogram Port, transport infrastructure constraints, manual processing, and unpredictable tariff-setting mechanisms to ensure stable long-term returns. _Context_: This reform is a strategic move to enhance export competitiveness as Bangladesh prepares to graduate from Least Developed Country (LDC) status.