Business Desk :
Dhaka and Washington DC have expressed willingness to work together to advance the US-Bangladesh Economic Partnership to facilitate sustainable supply chains and generate more employment to further strengthen ties between the two friendly countries.
The two states underlined the need for bilateral cooperation to help overcome the global economic disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic while sharing the common vision of a free, open, inclusive, peaceful and secure Indo-Pacific region.
This was reflected in a joint statement regarding the vision for advancing the US-Bangladesh Economic partnership, published by US Department of State on Monday while it was transmitted on Tuesday by The US Embassy here.
The joint statement was issued by the two governments after a high-level virtual meeting, co-chaired by US Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment, Keith Krach and Bangladesh Prime Minister’s Adviser for Private Industry and Investment Salman F. Rahman, MP, on September 30.
During the meeting, both sides discussed wide range of issues regarding bilateral cooperation on investment, energy, digital policy, blue economy, connectivity and public health for building a strong economic partnership and trade ties between the two countries.
Investment
Bangladesh side said that it would welcome investment from U.S. firms in its Economic Zones as a discussion in the Trade and Investment Cooperation Forum Agreement (TICFA) Council Meetings between the two Governments.
The Bangladesh side indicated that US investment and technology in its agro-processing sector, agricultural trade and jute sectors could be beneficial as it could promote food security in its post-COVID-19 recovery strategy.
The participants in meeting expressed hope that fair procurement processes in Bangladesh, in accordance with its Government Procurement Rules, would contribute to further expanding the US trade and investment in Bangladesh.
