Regional integration in South Asia is not only achievable but essential for shared prosperity, said renowned economist and former Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan, Dr. Ishrat Hussain.
He made the remarks while delivering the keynote address at 'Turbo Charging South Asian Capital Markets (Dhaka Chapter)' held at a hotel in the city on Tuesday. InfoTech Private Limited in association with Data Edge Limited organised the event.
Describing capital markets as 'the heartbeat of economic growth', Dr. Hussain emphasised that reforms in fiscal and structural sectors must progress in tandem.
"Stable, transparent, and technology-driven markets are key to fostering entrepreneurship, infrastructure, and shared prosperity," he said.
He also reflected on the evolving global landscape, observing that the world -- once driven by openness and liberalisation -- is increasingly shifting toward fragmentation and protectionism.
Ironically, he noted, countries that once championed free trade and financial integration are now retreating from those ideals.
This reversal, he warned, is slowing the very forces that previously enabled developing nations to reduce poverty, attract investment, and expand global trade participation.
Amid this changing dynamic, Dr. Hussain urged South Asian nations to strengthen regional and bilateral partnerships to stay competitive.
"Before 1947, South Asia functioned as a single economic unit with shared legal and administrative systems," he said. "The potential for collaboration still exists -- what's needed is the political will."
Speaking as the chief guest, Dr. Anisuzzaman Chowdhury, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser, reaffirmed Bangladesh's commitment to building inclusive, technology-enabled, and globally aligned capital markets.
He encouraged the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) to actively pursue bilateral cooperation and policy dialogues with regional counterparts, including Pakistan.
Drawing a broader geopolitical connection, Dr. Anisuzzaman observed that the world is entering an era of indirect global conflict, fought not through conventional warfare but via technology, cyber tools, and economic disruption.
Yet, he noted, global connectivity through technology is also uniting people around shared causes, such as the widespread solidarity movements for Gaza - 'a symbol of humanity's collective conscience'.
The event also featured international perspectives. Ugas Sheikh Mohamed, Chairman of the Capital Markets Authority of Kenya, spoke on the regulator's evolving role in enabling innovation.
Naveed Qazi, CEO of the National Clearing Company of Pakistan Limited (NCCPL), shared insights into Pakistan's advancements in T+1 settlement, centralised KYC systems, and tech-driven market reforms.
Concluding the event, Haris Naseer, COO of InfoTech, unveiled the company's next-generation platform -- Infiniem Trading and Post-Trade Infrastructure -- designed to modernise exchanges, clearing houses, and depositories with open architecture, interoperability, and cloud scalability
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