US investment delegation to visit Bangladesh next week: Special Envoy Sergio Gor

A delegation of US companies looking to invest in Bangladesh will visit the country next week, US Special Envoy for South and Central Asia Sergio Gor announced today (1 August), signalling Washington's growing interest in expanding economic cooperation with Dhaka. 

"The United States holds the prime minister in the highest regard. We have a lot of potential, as we discussed," Gor told reporters after paying a courtesy call on Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at the latter's office in Dhaka's Tejgaon this morning.

"We have seen some of that already come out this week; we have lowered our travel advisory for Bangladesh, encouraging people to come here both as tourists and also as an investment client," he continued.

"Just next week, we're going to have a delegation visiting US companies that are looking to invest in Bangladesh. The message that we want to make sure that gets out there between our two sides is that there's incredible potential. 

"Whether that relates to the pharma industry or whether that relates to IT, there's a lot that the United States and Bangladesh can do together, and we look forward to building on that and taking it to the next level."

In the social media post, the US Embassy in Dhaka quoted the special envoy as saying, "Today I called on the Honourable Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to discuss the great opportunities between the US and Bangladesh to strengthen economic cooperation and enhance our partnership. This is a priority for the United States, and working together we can achieve real results!"

Gor and Tarique's meeting began at 9:30am at the Prime Minister's Office in Tejgaon, said PM's Deputy Press Secretary Jahidul Islam Rony.

During the meeting, the two sides exchanged views on Bangladesh-US bilateral relations, expanding trade and investment, regional cooperation and other issues of mutual interest.

The meeting also included discussions on the Rohingya crisis.

The special envoy shared his observations from his visit to the Rohingya camps in Cox's Bazar the previous day. He praised the government and people of Bangladesh for providing shelter to the Rohingya refugees and for continuing humanitarian assistance.

The prime minister said more than half of the international assistance provided for the Rohingya comes from the US and expressed his gratitude to the US government and people for their support.

The special envoy emphasised the importance of achieving a sustainable and political solution to the Rohingya crisis.

The two sides also agreed to work together to resume testing activities in Bangladesh in cooperation with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Gor arrived in Dhaka on Thursday afternoon (30 July) on a three-day visit.

He met Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman on Thursday evening and visited the Rohingya camps in Cox's Bazar yesterday.