Dhaka: Prime Minister Tarique Rahman engaged in a significant meeting with a 50-member delegation from the US-Bangladesh Business Council on Thursday. The focus of the meeting was to explore avenues for increasing US investment in Bangladesh, fostering job creation, and propelling economic growth in the country. The meeting convened at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) in Bangladesh Secretariat, commencing around 9:30am.
According to United News of Bangladesh, PMO Spokesperson Mahdi Amin, who is also the Prime Minister’s adviser, described the discussion as ‘highly productive and effective’. The talks revolved around how the US private sector could play a critical role in enhancing foreign investment, creating new employment opportunities, and accelerating Bangladesh’s economic progress. The gathering included representatives from leading US businesses, who emphasized the expansion of US investment in Bangladesh and the reinforcement of the economic and trade relations between the two nations.
Mahdi Amin also highlighted that the meeting addressed the potential contributions of the US private sector in implementing the government’s election manifesto and various policies. The delegation from the US expressed a keen interest in contributing to economic growth through job creation. Amin expressed optimism that this visit by US business leaders would further deepen the economic ties between Bangladesh and the United States.
‘We firmly believe that this successful meeting with the Prime Minister will take us one step closer to our vision of building a self-reliant and prosperous Bangladesh,’ the PMO spokesperson stated. The delegation was led by Oliver Simpson, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer of Excelerate Energy, and Ambassador (retd) Atul Keshap, President of the US-Bangladesh Business Council and Senior Vice President for South Asia at the US Chamber of Commerce.
Ambassador Keshap expressed that US companies take pride in being Bangladesh’s largest foreign investment partner and conveyed confidence in the country’s economic potential. He mentioned that they were attentive to the Prime Minister’s forward-looking outlook for Bangladesh’s future, particularly his dedication to leveraging the nation’s human resources and potential.
Referring to the government’s ambition of transforming Bangladesh into a $1 trillion economy by 2034, Keshap highlighted the potential impact of the private sector in this transformation. He stated that the sector could serve as a catalyst, bringing technology, global experience, and capital to enhance economic prosperity and welfare.
Keshap praised Bangladesh as a country of immense potential, acknowledging the longstanding partnerships US companies have established with Bangladeshis, contributing significantly to job creation and economic progress. He conveyed that the US business community is encouraged by the government’s emphasis on social development, public welfare, and macroeconomic stability.
‘We will take this positive message back to our respective companies and the US business community through the US Chamber of Commerce,’ Keshap stated. He also expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister and other government officials for their hospitality, voicing hope for continued growth in the Bangladesh-US partnership in the coming decades.
The US delegation included senior executives from various prominent organizations, including Excelerate Energy, Chevron, Meta (Facebook), Visa, Boeing, Uber, and many others. Key Bangladeshi officials, including Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman, and others, were also in attendance at the meeting.