StanChart launches first-ever global running event along the Belt and Road

The Bangladesh leg of the Standard Chartered Belt and Road Relay was held recently. The Relay is the first-ever global running event spanning the Belt and Road Initiative, with the aim of highlighting the Bank’s continued commitment to Belt and Road, and the positive impact of the initiative to communities and businesses globally.

The Relay will be led by eight staff athletes from Standard Chartered, selected from the Bank’s diverse footprint in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Europe and the Americas. These athletes will participate in running events across 44 Belt and Road markets within a 90-day period.

By crossing the finish line at Bangladesh recently, Standard Chartered Belt and Road athletes have completed 15 of the 44 races in their 90-day Belt and Road Relay. Bangladesh was the final country in the Asia and South Asia region to host the relay. The next event, in Oman will mark the start of the race in the Middle East region.

Commenting on the launch, Bill Winters, Group Chief Executive, Standard Chartered, said, “The Belt and Road Initiative is the most ambitious and far-reaching project of its kind in the world today. We are present in two-thirds of Belt and Road markets, and our rich heritage, deep local knowledge and unparalleled connectivity mean that we’re ideally placed to help our partners, clients and communities to make the most out of the initiative. By traversing these markets on foot and engaging local clients, governments, media and communities, our Standard Chartered Belt & Road Relay athletes will showcase our commitment to be the One Bank for the Belt and Road.”

Speaking at the Bangladesh event, Naser Ezaz Bijoy, Chief Executive Officer, Standard Chartered Bangladesh, said, “This relay is a celebration of the strength of our network, our capabilities to support our clients across our footprint markets, and the unique diversity that makes us better together. Through the Belt and Road Relay, we aim to highlight the positive impact of the Belt and Road Initiative for communities and businesses globally, as well as the importance of collaboration and partnerships in driving commerce and prosperity across the globe.”

The Standard Chartered Belt & Road Relay kicked off in Hong Kong on 17 February, in conjunction with the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon, which is one of the biggest sports events in the city with over 74,000 runners, and end in China on 11 May after the Belt and Road Forum.

The Belt and Road Initiative is core to Standard Chartered. In 2017, the Bank committed additional financing for Belt and Road projects of at least USD 20 billion by 2020, and was involved in more than 50 Belt and Road deals worth more than USD 10billion across a range of products and services.

-rmc//