Is there any "startup hub" alternatives around the world?

Istanbul has big ambitions to become and international financial centre. And now the newest ambition on the block is to become a startup Hub. There are many other prominent cities with the same accolade.

However, Istanbul not become an international financial centre (yet) despite full government support and municipal planning and a long line of incentives. There are probably a few lessons as to why it has not happened yet and why it will never happen, especially in comparison to Dubai for example and how Dubai was able to build a much more successful financial centre right in the middle of the desert with a much smaller economy and trade capacity in such a short time frame.

It takes more than subsidised large swaths of land with good road connections, or government decrees to create a financial hub. And in that regard, we can easily say that it takes a lot more to become a Startup Hub.

We can discuss what other requirements, whether it is a strong cultural infrasturcutre with an established, functional and efficient legal system and human capital alongside a thriving city life offering good quality of life with healthcare and education for an international community of people would be much more important than a fine climate, sightseeing or night life.

In this regard, we are seeing that cities like Singapore and Hong Kong are getting ahead in Asia to become startup Hubs of their regions just like London and Berlin in Europe getting ahead in the game.

Also seems like Istanbul is now missing the opportunity to get some of the action form the dissolution of some of the banking capacity from London following Brexit and the hard stance UK and European governments has taken for the next two years of negotiations. Many investment banks has announced at DAVOS and afterwards that they would be moving about 20% of their workforce and banking business to other cities such as Dublin, Paris, Frankfurt or Luxembourg. Instead of fighting with European governments for internal political gains, if the Turkish government was serious they would be lobbying at European headquarters of banks with incentives for some of the operations of these banks to be moved to Istanbul

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