We have ship building and steel rerolling and we are hopeful that some company will utilize the China+1 strategy where they will expand their already established business in China and bring it to Chittagong because of lower operational costs.
Born on the 1st February, 1958, Mahbubul Alam, CIP (Commercially Important Person) is the son of Late Alhaz Nurul Alamand and late Anowara Begum. Currently he is the President of Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), the largest business chamber in our country. He hails from Raozan and holds a Masters in Sociology.
Alam is the chairman of Crown Steel Limited and has diversified his business interest into Banks, Insurance companies and Healthcare. Soft spoken but very dynamic in nature, Alam is also the Vice President of FBCCI (The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce& Industry) and Vice-Chairman of Confederation of Eastern Chambers of Commerce &Industries (CECCI), a body comprising of provincial Chambers of India, Bhutan, Myanmar & Kunming of China. He is also the Member of Governing Body, BangladeshEconomic Zones Authority (BEZA).
The contribution of Chittagong port to our GDP and tax revenues is enormous, however, there is still a lot to be done before its true potential is harnessed. What is being done in this regard?
Everywhere in the world port cities are playing a big role. They act as important business hubs for countries. We have the Export Processing Zone (EPZ) in South Halishahar. The government has been undertaking a 1200-megawatt (mw) coal-based power generation project at Matarbari in Cox’s Bazar. The two lane tunnel under Karnaphuli River should be completed by 2018 and we are also looking forward to the development of the deep sea port at Sonadia. In the truest sense, Chittagong will become a commercial capital and after 30 years it will be a twin city with a division between the north and the south. With the completion of the Matarbari project, power generation issues will be resolved and it is our hope that in time Chittagong will become one of the main business hubs of South East Asia.
Post 1947, Chittagong was the nativity land of industrialization in this country. Nevertheless, recently it has become lackluster due to gas and power crisis. Your thoughts on this issue?
From 2003 to 2013, the government decided to not provide gas through Bakhrabad gas pipeline. It has a capacity of 520 cft gas whereas we were getting only 200 cft and the pressure is very low. Industries require uninterrupted gas supplies, if they are not receiving this, then new investments will not come. If gas is not available, they we should provide us with LNG. Otherwise our ventures and products will not be competitive. Balanced development is required and there is a need to set up industries in Sylhet and other areas. Investors require imported raw materials. Due to the location benefits and railway, Chittagong is more important to investors. We know that the cost of transportation through railway is almost half of other modes of transport. We should have done something to hardness that potential already.
Chittagong is renowned for heavy industry so what are your take on for the future industrialization and industry?
We have ship building and steel rerolling and we are hopeful that some company will utilize the China+1 strategy where they will expand their already established business in China and bring it to Chittagong because of lower operational costs. The government has taken some steps by setting up a Special Economic Zone in Mirsorai Island and a portion of the land has already been acquired for infrastructural development. So hopefully that will attract both FDI and local investment.
Everyone praises the labor force of Chittagong who are very hardworking and disciplined. But many of them still lack proper skill.
There is a lack of institutions in our country which can provide proper training for our labors. I once led a delegation to Saudi Arabia where I was told that they would provide visas to our people if we could provide them with skilled labour. This kind of lacking has serious effect on our productivity.
CCCI is a leading Chamber of the country and has the highest number of members. From your point of view, what should be done to help the businesses thrive?
CCCI works as a bridge to resolve issues that arise between the government and any business organization. We usually act as a bargaining agent. Infrastructural development is a major concern still. The Dhaka Chittagong highway will have four lanes whereas it should have eight lanes. A double railway line is also required as this train line is one of the oldest lines from British period. Express trains should be introduced as well and then we will be on our way to becoming a middle income economy very soon.
