Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday asked the US Businesses to come with more investments in Bangladesh in potential and productive sectors for mutual benefits, reports UNB.
"Now is our time - and you are here to make it yours, taking advantage of our conducive investment regime," she said.
The prime minister said this while delivering her introductory speech in the Meeting with the Visiting Executive Business Delegation US-Bangladesh Business Council at her official residence Ganabhaban.
She mentioned that US businesspeople could invest in power and energy, ICT, infrastructure, light engineering and electronics, automobile industry, agro-processing, pharmaceuticals, and ceramics, among others.
Currently, she said that Bangladesh has the most open foreign direct investment policies in South Asia.
This includes a liberalised industrial policy, one-stop service, an allowance for 100% foreign ownership, an easy exit policy, a 15-year tax exemption, a VAT exemption for imported machinery, streamlined services, and more.
"To facilitate industrialisation, we are establishing 100 Special Economic Zones, 109 Hi-Tech and Software Technology Parks, and IT Training and Incubation Centres across the country," she said.
Hasina said that the Padma Bridge, which was opened last year, established a direct road and rail link to 21 southern districts.
"The friendship and partnership between Bangladesh and the USA proved to be mutually beneficial for both countries and deeply rooted in mutual trust," she said.
Board Chair of the US-Bangladesh Business Council and Leader of the Mission Steven Kobos and President of the US-Bangladesh Business Council Ambassador Atul Keshap also spoke.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister's Private Industry and Investment Adviser Salman F. Rahman said on Tuesday that there is no concern among US businessmen about the upcoming elections in Bangladesh, reports UNB.
He said that the US businessmen do not see any risk in spontaneous investment here and they are optimistic about Bangladesh's potential.
"If there was any doubt about the ongoing political situation, such a large business delegation would not have come to the country before the elections," he added.
Salman said this to reporters after a meeting with a high-level delegation of the US Chamber of Commerce and Industries in the conference room of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) building at Agargaon on Tuesday.
A delegation of 40 members of the US Chamber of Commerce and Industry met with Salman F. Rahman to further accelerate the bilateral commercial partnership between Bangladesh and the United States.
The list includes the world's largest equity company Black Stone, technology company Meta, energy sector company Accelerate Energy, Chevron, ExxonMobil and aircraft company Boeing.
In the meeting, US businessmen expressed interest in investing in several sectors including energy, aerospace, digital economy, and health sector.
