1. Let’s start by briefly introducing your early life and academic background.
I was born in a renowned family in Gohira village of Raozan in 1958. My father, Late Alhaj Nurul Alam, was a leading businessman and my mother, Late Anowara Begum, was a housewife. I spent my childhood in my village home and completed secondary education at Gohira High School and higher secondary education at Haji Mohammad Mohsin College of Chattogram. I have graduated from the University of Chittagong in Social Science. During my student life, I emerged as a leader naturally and became the Social Welfare Secretary of Chittagong University Central Students Union (CUCSU). This was the base that helped me grow as a trade body leader later in my professional life.
2. How did your journey as an entrepreneur start? What inspired you to choose this path?.
After completing my Master’s degree, I got myself involved in the family business with my father. In the course of time, I became one of the leading importers of essential commodities in Khatungonj, the biggest wholesale market in the country. Having enormous success in the trading business, I commenced my journey as an industrialist and started doing business in different sectors like steel, energy, healthcare, banking, insurance, exporting frozen foods, tourism, etc. by establishing 19 enterprises employing more than 2000 employees with a total annual turnover of 900 million US dollars. I am the Chairman of M. Alam Group.
3. Tell us about your growing involvement in the Chittagong Chamber of Commerce & Industry? Shed some light on your roles and responsibilities.
To raise the voice of the business community, I engaged myself in trade leadership. As a result, I have been the President of the Chittagong Chamber of Commerce & Industry since 2013. I am elected in this position for five consecutive terms for the first time creating history.
As a trade body leader, I occupy many notable positions in different organizations as well. I have been the President of the Khatungonj Trade and Industries Association since 2008. I was the former Vice-President & Director of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), former Chairman of Business Initiative Leading Development (BUILD), Vice-Chairman of SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Vice-President of the Confederation of Eastern Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Director of International Chamber of Commerce-Bangladesh (ICCB).
4. What opportunities and prospects do you think Chattogram has in the future of Bangladesh’s business and economic sector? Share your thoughts behind it.
Our Government has given priority to the infrastructural development of greater Chattogram to make it a business hub and has been implementing many mega projects like a deep seaport, bay terminal, multilane tunnel under the river Karnaphuli, Chattogram elevated expressway, Mirsarai Bangabandhu Industrial Park to attract more investment from home and abroad, trade facilitation and expedite export-import activities by enhancing port facilities and easing multimodal transportation and communication with a view to advance economic activities.
Therefore, it is imperative to complete these mega projects on a priority basis. Value addition to our existing export item is a must. Product diversification is necessary to capture more global market share and reach new markets. We can think of deploying agencies in different parts of the world for market development where we can export beside our existing destinations. We have to think of resilience in the supply chain of our raw materials as the new situation has taught us a good lesson. Russia and Ukraine have been major sources for our commodity imports, and now we have to look for alternative sources where time and money need to be considered first. The commencement of a direct shipping line between Chittagong Port of Bangladesh and Ravenna port in Italy in February 2022 has opened the door for direct maritime connectivity with other European countries as well, which will reduce more than 50% time and cost in our bilateral trade. In short, Chattogram is going to be ready to become one of the most suitable destinations for investment and the hub of the region within the next 5 years when all the mega projects will be completed and bring expected FDI.
5. How is the Chittagong Chamber of Commerce & Industry planning to play a more influential role in enhancing its growth as the trading hub of the country.
The Chittagong Chamber of Commerce & Industry was established in 1906 in the port city Chattogram and had been working for the overall economic development of the country. Chattogram Port is the prime seaport of the country, handling about 90% of our total export-import. Chattogram is also the base for all heavy industries. CCCI has been playing a vital role in making it a hub. On this journey, we first introduced the Custom Automation project in Chattogram, built the first World Trade Center in the country, and have been organizing a month-long Chattogram International Trade Fair (CITF) for the last 29 years. We have been working with the Government on the construction of a bay terminal to enhance the capacity of Chittagong Port to keep pace with the growth in our export-import activities and Mirsarai Bangabandhu Shilpa Nagar for facilitating massive industrialization to create millions of jobs with a view to achieve the goal of becoming a developed country by 2041. To attract foreign direct investment, we are regularly exchanging views with all the missions, embassies, foreign delegations, World Bank Group, JICA, JETRO, EU, and connected to all Bangladeshi missions abroad for enhancing bilateral trade, business, and investment, particularly in Chattogram.
