Bangladesh has sought preferential market access from the United States to increase bilateral trade and investment.
The request was made at the second High Level Economic Consultation between Bangladesh and the United States held in Washington on Thursday.
Salman F. Rahman, Adviser to the Prime Minister for Private Industry and Investment and Jose W. Fernandez, US State Department Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment co-chaired the day-long meeting.
The foreign ministry said Rahman urged the US government for preferential market access of Bangladeshi products to the US market, enhanced US investment in manufacturing, technology transfer and International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) funding for infrastructural development.
He reiterated Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s earlier offer of a dedicated Economic Zone for the US investors. The Adviser also encouraged the US IT companies to invest in the Hi-Tech Parks taking advantage of the large pool of freelancers in Bangladesh.
He underscored business to business and people to people contacts as the key elements for enhanced economic cooperation between the two countries.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md. Shahriar Alam who was also part of the delegation stated that continuity of coherent policies under the visionary leadership of the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was the key to Bangladesh’s tremendous socio-economic progress during the past 13 years. Deputy Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asia Ambassador Kelly Keiderling, Assistant US Trade Representative Christopher Wilson, Deputy Under Secretary for International Affairs, Department of Labour Thea Lee and other senior officials of the relevant US departments were also present at the meeting.
Under Secretary Jose W. Fernandez applauded Bangladesh’s remarkable economic growth and tremendous success in COVID-19 vaccination.
Recognising the progress made in Bangladesh’s labour sector, Under Secretary Fernandez proposed for a regular consultation mechanism to remain engaged on the labour issues.
In the 2nd session on the Labour issues, ILO Country Director in Bangladesh Tuomo Poutiainen made an independent presentation on the progress Bangladesh made in the labour sector.
Worker’s rights Coordinator of the AFL-CIO Laura Gutierrez, Solidarity Center Executive Director Shawna Bader-Blau and Bangladesh labour representative Kazi Rahima Akter attended this session.
Both sides discussed a range of other issues including cooperation on climate change, renewable energy, maritime and blue economy, COVID-19, tourism & hospitality, and civil aviation.
The Bangladesh side mentioned that the resumption of Dhaka-New York direct Biman flight is a priority for the government and drew US attention for expeditious action on the matter.
They agreed to work in close cooperation to resume the flight as early as possible.
Both sides agreed on the importance of enhanced people to people contacts in strengthening bilateral relations.
In this regard, State Minister Alam drew the attention of the US side to expedite visa processing for the students and the businessmen from Bangladesh.
Both the sides agreed to hold the 3rd round of the consultation in 2023 in Dhaka at a mutually convenient time. A Joint Statement was issued at the end of the meeting.
