Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has promised the American businesses her government's total support in an effort to get them to invest in Bangladesh, report agencies.
"I invite you to come to Bangladesh with your businesses, technology and innovations for mutual benefit," she said at a luncheon roundtable with the US Chamber of Commerce in New York on Monday.
"Please join us in our journey of shared profit and prosperity. I assure you of my government's full support and cooperation," she said.
The prime minister described the development achievements of her government in nine and a half years and further plan to boost foreign investment.
The US is the single largest trading partner of Bangladesh with bilateral trade of $7.5 billion in 2016-17 and second largest investment partner with investment of over $3 billion, according to her.
Focusing on socio-economic uplift and economic development of Bangladesh, the prime minister said the economy grew at an average rate of 6.6 per cent in the nine and a half years of her government.
The GDP growth was 7.86 per cent in the last fiscal year, which is expected to be 8.25 per cent in the next fiscal, she said, adding that the foreign currency reserve has grown more than nine times to over USD 33 billion in 2018 from a mere USD7.5 billion in 2009.
Bangladesh's strategic location makes it an emerging hub for regional connectivity, foreign investments and global outsourcing, she said, adding that the government had taken initiatives to connect India, China and South-East Asian neighbours.
"Bangladesh could be a gateway to a market of 4.0 billion people -- itself offering a strong and growing market of 160 million," she said.
Bangladesh has the most liberal investment policy in South Asia with most attractive incentives and highest profit rate, she added.
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