BSS-55 USA keen to invest more in Bangladesh, boost trade

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BSS-55

DISCUSSION-US-BANGLA LEAD

USA keen to invest more in Bangladesh, boost trade

(updates with more information)

DHAKA, June 17, 2020 (BSS) – The United States today expressed its keen interest to invest more in Bangladesh’s different sectors alongside boosting bilateral trade.

They showed the interest at a special online conference held in view of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) situation.

The Prime Minister’s Office and the US Chamber of Commerce’s US-Bangladesh Working Group jointly organised the event titled “Bangladesh Forward: Avenues for Recovery and Growth”.

Prime Minister’s Private Industry and Investment Advisor Salman F Rahman, State Minister for ICT Division Zunaid Ahmed Palak, Bangladesh Ambassador to the USA Md Ziauddin, US Ambassador in Dhaka Earl R Miller and senior officials of the two countries took part in the conference.

PM’s Principal Secretary Dr Ahmad Kaikaus and Senior Vice President of South Asia, US Chamber of Commerce Nisha Biswal jointly moderated the programme.

Bangladesh’s different business bodies, including FBCCI, MCCI, DCCI, BGMEA, LFMAB, BAPI and BASIS, as well as a number of Bangladesh-US joint investment and trade organisations were connected to it.

On the other hand, more than 100 US companies and entrepreneurs as well as senior officials of the US State Department joined the event on behalf of the US Chamber of Commerce.

The aim of the online summit was to keep up normal trade and commerce, strengthen the global supply management and expand the bilateral investment sectors in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.

At the conference, Bangladesh and the United States decided to form a working group to further expand joint investment and trade between the two countries.

The decision was taken following a proposal of Prime Minister’s Principal Secretary Dr Ahmad Kaikaus.

The US and Bangladesh business leaders agreed to examine the issue of formation of Bangladesh-US Trade Council and hold a number of technical-level meetings to increase bilateral trade and investment.

Salman F Rahman, in his speech, reiterated the government’s commitment to face the post-COVID situation and urged the US entrepreneurs to invest in special economic zones in a larger volume.

Dr Kaikaus highlighted the progress of Bangladesh in trade, commerce and investment.

The principal secretary mentioned different financial and non-financial stimulus packages declared by the government to offset the COVID-19 fallouts.

Dr Kaikaus also expressed the government’s all out support to the US investors.

The US Chamber leaders highly appreciated Bangladesh’s magnificent development under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

The US big companies like Target, Shevron, Zara, Exon Mobile and Healthcare expressed their interest to invest in Bangladesh and import different products and services.

BSS/FN/SH/KU/2232hrs