Why did Alexander the Great plan to make Babylon his imperial capital?

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Reconstructed Ishtar Gate at Babylon near Al-Hillah, Iraq, featuring blue walls decorated with rows of yellow and white animal reliefs and a central arched entrance. — Babylon A reconstruction of the Ishtar Gate at the ruins of Babylon, near modern Al-Ḥillah, Iraq.

Alexander the Great planned to make Babylon his imperial capital primarily because he recognized the city's significant commercial importance. Following his conquest of the city in 331 BCE, Alexander took steps to foster its economic potential by allowing its satrap to coin money and initiating the construction of a harbor to promote trade.1

His intention to establish Babylon as the center of his empire was cut short by his death in 323 BCE, which occurred within the palace of Nebuchadnezzar II. While Alexander had previously confirmed the city's privileges and ordered the restoration of its temples, his vision for the capital was not realized by his successors, who eventually shifted the administrative focus to the newly built city of Seleucia on the Tigris.12