government, until around 2000 when exports grew by 21.13% to an all time high of $8.02 billion. Chittagong is the site of Bangladesh's busiest port which handles 80% of all Bangladeshi imports and exports. The strategic location of the port has allowed for interest by investors to help improve the city.
Most of the International trading are believed to be done from Khatunganj, Asadganj & Chaktai area. The Sawdagars (Traditional local merchants) of Chittagong still control the entire Bangladesh Market in this import oriented country. Agrabad is often known as Chittagong's chief commercial region. All major banks like HSBC, Standard Chartered, Citibank, Mercantile Bank Limited, Premier Bank Limited, Dutch Bangla Bank, BRAC Bank, Dhaka Bank Limited, Bangladesh Bank, Eastern Bank, Sonali Bank, Rupali Bank and all other banks operating in Bangladesh have offices in and around the city. Numerous investments have allowed for a construction boom similar to Dhaka. Over the years, scores of hotels, shopping malls, and other modern buildings have sprung up to change the face of the city. Ongoing developments include various multi-story shopping malls and a Chittagong World Trade Centre.
In 2000, manufacturing industry of Chittagong contributed 15% of the total GDP. According to CityMayors Statistics Chittagong registered a tremendous GDP of $25.5 billion in 2010 with an annual growth rate of 6.3%. It is estimated that in 2020 the GDP of Chittagong will be $39 billion.
The Chittagong Stock Exchange was established in 1995 as the second stock exchange in Bangladesh. It is located in the commercial area of Agrabad.
The Sangu field is located offshore Bangladesh, in the Bay of Bengal, approximately 40 km South West of Chittagong. The Sangu development comprises an offshore gas production platform, a subsea raw gas export pipeline, an onshore gas terminal and an LP pipeline. Coming onstream in June 1998 the Sangu development was the first offshore
