Bangladesh, US holds high-level economic partnership consultation

A high-level economic partnership between Bangladesh and the United States was held on Wednesday at a virtual platform to develop a vision for advancing the existing US-Bangladesh economic partnership.

The speakers emphasised the need for close cooperation between the governments and industries to address the current and future pandemic related health and economical challenges, said a press release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
 

The virtual consultation was led by Salman F Rahman, MP, advisor for private industry and investment to the prime minister of Bangladesh and co-chaired by Keith Krach, US undersecretary of state for economic growth, energy, and the environment.

Salman F Rahman said that Bangladesh would continue to proactively pursue economic diplomacy with neighbouring, regional, and global players, and welcomed the US interest and involvement in the existing and new initiatives.

Several important issues like investment, public health cooperation, sound digital policy, blue economy, agriculture capacity building, energy, transportation, and infrastructure were discussed during the consultations focusing on how to further enhance the overall economic partnership between Bangladesh and the United States.

Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment Keith Krach appreciated the Bangladesh government's initiatives to attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).

Underscoring the fact that the US is Bangladesh's single largest export destination and also the largest investor in the country, the speakers expressed their optimism that the US companies would take advantage of the competitiveness of Bangladesh and invest in the country's ICT, energy, and pharmaceuticals areas.

Both sides noted the excellent cooperation between the two countries during the Covid-19 pandemic and highlighted the supply of world-class PPE by Bangladesh to the United States in the shortest possible time.

An air transport agreement between the US government and Bangladesh government was signed during the high-level consultation.

Md Shahriar Alam, MP, state minister for foreign affairs, Bangladesh Ambassador to the USA, principal secretary to the prime minister, and senior officials from relevant ministries and departments of both countries also attended the meeting.