প্রকাশ: 10/05/2022
Foreign Minister AK
Abdul Momen on Monday encouraged US businesses to diversify their investments
in Bangladesh beyond the energy sector.
Talking to reporters at the Foreign Service Academy, Momen
noted the current US investment in Bangladesh is concentrated in the energy
sector.
He said there are many potential areas where Bangladesh
seeks foreign investment.
A delegation from the US, members of the US-Bangladesh
Business Council, is visiting Bangladesh until May 11 to explore economic
opportunities between the two countries.
Over 27 executives from across sectors like digital, energy,
financial services, insurance, and agriculture are part of the business
delegation.
The delegation met Momen at Foreign Service Academy on
Monday afternoon.
The Foreign Minister noted that the US has a strong
investment presence in Bangladesh in the traditional sectors such as energy,
oil, gas, and mineral resources.
He stressed that there is a huge scope for the US investors
to diversify their investment portfolio and funds, to invest in the emerging
areas such as but not limited to, agro-processing, automobiles, shipbuilding,
pharmaceuticals, renewable energy, information and communication technology and
the blue economy.
The US business leaders appreciated the economic stride made
by Bangladesh.
The business delegation expressed keen interest to invest in
IT, energy, financial services, and technology sectors while Bangladeshi
businessmen invited them to invest in pharmaceuticals, technical skill
development, agriculture, and some other potential sectors.
This is the maiden visit of the US-Bangladesh Business Council since its
inception in April 2021.
The Bangladesh delegation included representatives from the
National Board of Revenue, Bangladesh Investment Development Authority,
Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority, Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of
Commerce and Industries, Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters
Association and D-8 Chambers of Commerce and Industry.
The business leaders of both sides pledged to advance and
strengthen the trade, commercial and investment relations between Bangladesh
and the US.
The discussion centred around the growing economic
relationship between the two countries that will set the foundation for the
next 50 years of the bilateral relationship as Bangladesh transitions from an
"aid-dependent" economy to an "investment and trade-driven"
one.
Earlier, US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas had a brief
interaction with the delegation on Sunday.
Senior officers of the US Embassy in Dhaka and the United
States Agency for International Development (USAID) Bangladesh shared their
briefings on high-level opportunities for stronger Bangladesh-US economic and
commercial ties.
The purpose of the Council's first trade mission to
Bangladesh is to renew an old friendship and explore opportunities for new
partnerships, said Jay R Pryor, vice-president (business development), Chevron.
Pryor, also inaugural board chair of the US-Bangladesh
Business Council, said the US companies want to contribute to Bangladesh's
impressive economic development.
- UNB
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