US keen to invest more in BD : Envoy
FE Report | Wednesday, 6 February 2019
The United States is eager to invest more in Bangladesh as the country (Bangladesh) has a potential market, said its envoy on Tuesday.
Newly appointed US Ambassador to Bangladesh Earl Robert Miller expressed his country's interest while talking to reporters after he met with Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi at the latter's secretariat office.
The envoy has also emphasised that a strong Bangladesh-US trade relationship is in the interest of the Bangladeshis and American people.
Mr Miller said, "We have discussed the key role that Bangladesh can play in Indo-Pacific strategy. We have discussed on free and transparent commerce which benefits both the countries. We are a single-largest export market."
"Two ways trade relationship remains unbalanced. So, we need to work for increasing sales and services here in Bangladesh. We can help US CEOs, trade delegations and trade nations come to Dhaka," he mentioned.
He added: "We want to increase further particularly bringing more investment and more businessmen here. Both Bangladesh and US can work together in infrastructure, energy industry and commercial opportunities."
Washington has a lot of interests in workers and factory safety and labour rights issues. There are US potential investors in Bangladesh, the envoy said, adding that Bangladesh can be an example to the world.
He said extraordinary progress has also been made by the Accord and Alliance in last couple of years.
Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi urged the US to invest more in different sectors of the country.
If the US appoints commercial counsellor to its embassy in Dhaka soon, it will help improve trade ties between the two countries, he said.
During the meeting, they discussed on Accord and Alliance issues, the minister said, adding that the envoy assured them that he will work to increase US investment in Bangladesh.
"We have also discussed on the generalised system of preferences (GSP). The US set 16 conditions and asked the government to fulfil them for regaining trade privilege. Bangladesh has already made better progress in the conditions set by US," Mr Munshi said.
Senior officials concerned were also present at the media briefing.