A London financial daily newspaper recently included Chittagong in its list of the top five future international financial hubs.
The strengths it cites, unlike some of the other cities on its list such as Doha, lie in Chittagong’s proximity to major global population centres. Chittagong’s strategic location besides Myanmar and India is highlighted as a key reason why it, and by extension Bangladesh, is of huge potential future interest to international financial service providers.
Take A Look: Chittagong among top 5 int'l finance hubs of the future
The proposal to build road connectivity from Chittagong to Kunming in south-west China, via Cox’s Bazar and Myanmar, is also mentioned as another key attraction.
Although this is only a small survey, its basis in geography is rooted in Bangladesh’s strategic location between the large and growing markets and economies of South Asia and South-East Asia.
It supports ambitious plans by Chittagong’s mayor to build on its long commercial heritage and sustainably develop the country’s leading port into a cleaner, greener, and world-class metropolis.
Chittagong’s future is of critical importance to Bangladesh’s economy. Developing a new deep sea port in or around Chittagong is vital for Bangladesh to take advantage of the prospects offered by initiatives to improve regional connectivity via the BCIM corridor and Bimstec.
Connectivity is key to maximising the opportunities offered by Bangladesh’s location and to support our own growing market and demographic dividend.
Improving communications between Dhaka and Chittagong needs to be high on the agenda of all parties and the government. Building a faster and more efficient multi-lane Dhaka-Chittagong highway is absolutely essential to speed up journey times between our major metropolises.
It should be supported by taking advantage of Chinese offers to build a new, modern train link between the two cities. Together, they can form a stronger hub for our manufacturing and export industries to develop and flourish.
A better vision for Chittagong will be good not just for its citizens, but for the whole country.