bdnews24.com :US Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs Charles Rivkin is coming to Dhaka.Officials at the foreign ministry say he will be here on Wednesday and Thursday.This will be his first visit after he was sworn in on April 15 this year by US Secretary of State John Kerry.He is the first non-career bilateral ambassador to lead this bureau.According to his office, Kerry brought him in with ateam of business leaders to help fulfill his mandate that “economic policy is foreign policy”.Prior to his appointment, Rivkin served for more than four years as the US Ambassador to France and Monaco where he led America’s first and one of its largest diplomatic missions.His visit comes before the December review on Bangladesh’s GSP privilege.President Barack Obama suspended the special trade status last year on the grounds of poor factory safety and workers rights conditions.During his two-day visit, Ambassador Rivkin will hold meetings and discussions with government officials, the business community, readymade garment sector leaders and workers, and the media.Prior to his government service, he worked in the media for over 20 years where he served as President and CEO of award-winning entertainment companies such as The Jim Henson Company and Wildbrain.Rivkin helped engineer the sale of The Jim Henson Company in 2000 for nearly $1 billion.His contribution to the television landscape has influenced generations of viewers, and Rivkin was named one of the 100 Most Creative People in Business by Fast Company.He received his bachelor’s degree from Yale University in 1984, graduating with distinction in political science and international relations.He received his MBA from Harvard University in 1988.In 2013, Ambassador Rivkin was personally awarded the Légion d’honneur with the rank of Commander by French President François Hollande.
