Bangladesh has sought US investment in the health sector as the two foreign ministers discussed ways of continued cooperation during the Covid19 pandemic.
The foreign ministry and the US department of state in separate statements said Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen and his counterpart Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo had a telephone conversation on Monday.
The Bangladesh foreign ministry on Tuesday said Dr Momen sought US investment in the health sector under their International Development Finance Corporation (IDFC) fund, which is an independent agency formed through the mandate of the US Congress.
Dr Momen also sought US investment in economic zones (EZs) saying Bangladesh wants to see “diversification” in foreign investment.
The state department in a separate statement said Secretary Pompeo reaffirmed the “importance of the US-Bangladesh relationship and discussed our continued cooperation to address the COVID-19 pandemic”.
They reviewed the more than $43 million in COVID-19 assistance that the United States has provided thus far to Bangladesh and discussed Bangladesh’s critical role in the international response to the pandemic by manufacturing emergency medical and protective supplies.
Secretary Pompeo commended Foreign Minister Momen for Bangladesh’s continued generosity in hosting Rohingya refugees.
The United States has contributed nearly $820 million in humanitarian assistance for the Rohingya crisis, most of which is for programs within Bangladesh.
The two leaders renewed commitments to support the voluntary, safe, dignified, and sustainable return of Rohingya refugees to Burma.
“They also discussed the importance of transparency and access to information for long-term economic stability and sustainable development,” the state department said.
About the investments, the Bangladesh foreign ministry said, Dr Momen highlighted the investment opportunities in the Hi-Tech Parks and ICT sector which he said would be “profitable” for the US due to availability of skilled work forces.
Dr Momen also sought duty-free access of Bangladeshi RMG products to the US market for two years due to pandemic. He said RMG workers, mainly women, have fallen into uncertainty as buyers from various countries including the US cancelled orders from Bangladesh.
Dr Momen also urged the US Secretary of State to hand over Rashed Chowdhury, the self-confessed killer of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, to executive the court verdict in Bangladesh.
He also laid emphasis on “partnership and mutual cooperation” during this unprecedented crisis due to pandemic.
The foreign ministry said Secretary Pompeo appreciated Bangladesh for advancing to Tier-2 in the Trafficking in Persons report released recently.
