Development emanating from international trade and investment in many least‐developed economies is impeded by inland freight transport systems that restrict multimodal transport. Increasing international trade may raise gross domestic product, generating increased demand for internal containerized cargo movements, but the requisite transport infrastructure is lacking. The paper explores impediments to developing effective multimodal transport and possible solutions in Bangladesh, which is an extreme case in point. It reports applications of Delphi techniques that explored local expert opinions regarding policies required to tackle such impediments. A panel of corporate executives perceived a changing inland transport system poorly suited to efficient origin‐to‐destination cargo movements in international supply chains. To promote further development, customs procedures must be streamlined and Bangladeshi shippers must adopt a door‐to‐door transport system.

The structure of competitiveness between hub ports in the multipolar Northeast Asian system will determine which ports achieve regional gateway status. A survey instrument to assess 21 measurement items generated 203 responses from Shanghai, Hong Kong and Busan. Exploratory factor analysis revealed a valid and reliable competitiveness construct underpinning 19 measurement scales and a four-factor model incorporating availability, operational efficiency, port costs and service quality. Differences in factor importance revealed that success as a regional gateway port depends on a port area developing strategically into a multi-functional business centre. The model offers a management tool to guide future port improvement.