Dhaka, Bangladesh, 5 November 2026 – When goods move faster across borders, businesses can plan with greater certainty, supply chains become more reliable and trade becomes more competitive. In Bangladesh, a new project is set to help make this happen at Chattogram Port, the country’s main gateway for international trade.
The Alliance has launched a new initiative to strengthen maritime trade facilitation at the port, helping modernise customs procedures, reduce unnecessary delays and make cargo clearance more predictable – without compromising the controls needed to protect public revenue and ensure compliance.
Co-funded by the European Union and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), and implemented by GIZ through its Partnerships for Sustainable Trade Programme, the project builds on Bangladesh’s ongoing investments in customs modernisation to improve cross-border trade, such as through the Alliance project to implement an ePort management system at Bhomra land port.
The launch brought together government authorities, development partners and private sector representatives, including the National Board of Revenue and the Chattogram Port Authority. Discussions highlighted the importance of making trade more efficient and predictable to strengthen Bangladesh’s competitiveness and attract high-value foreign investment.
By introducing a new risk management and selectivity model, the new project will help customs authorities focus their attention on high-risk consignments while allowing low-risk cargo to move faster through green lanes. At the same time, strengthened post-clearance audit procedures, supported by a new module in the ASYCUDA customs management system, will allow certain checks to take place after goods have been released, reducing unnecessary delays at the border.
The project will also support the expansion of Bangladesh’s Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) programme and help digitalise AEO certification, making it easier for businesses with a proven record of compliance to benefit from simplified customs procedures and faster clearance. Additionally, capacity building, change management and private sector engagement efforts will support the adoption of these reforms and ensure they respond to the needs of those using them every day.
In keeping with the Alliance model, the project will be implemented through public-private partnership, ensuring that businesses are an integral part of the project, from start to end. With implementation now under way, the coming months will focus on turning these reforms into practical improvements for businesses trading through Chattogram Port.
The ambition is clear: fewer unnecessary delays, smarter customs controls and a more reliable gateway for Bangladesh’s international trade.
