US eyeing big investments in Bangladesh under Indo-Pacific Strategy
Financial Express November 06, 2019
Flags of Bangladesh and the United States of America are seen cross-pinned in this photo symbolising friendship between the two nationsUS Acting Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs Alice Wells has said her country wants to make big investments in Bangladesh in the potential areas including infrastructure and energy under the Indo-Pacific Strategy (IPS).
“We discussed how we can improve foreign direct investments and expand American business in Bangladesh and help the country develop its ambitious goals. That was a significant part of the conversation,” she told reporters after her meeting with Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Tuesday evening.
She also held meeting with Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal at his Secretariat office, reports UNB.
Alice is on a three-day visit and is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, civil society members, as well as visit the Rohingya camps.
“The point that I always underscored is that it’s going to be very attractive to foreign direct investors to strengthen Bangladeshi institutions, and so the free press that has investigative journalism, rule of law, judiciary and well-functioning civil society,” she said.
These are the forces that should play their role to advance Bangladesh, she said, adding, “All of that comes together and makes Bangladesh an advanced society.”
Momen said Alice showed US interest in big investments in Bangladesh under the IPS.
IPS is a vision of the Trump administration to improve connectivity between the Pacific and the Indian Oceans with three major components of it being economy, governance and security.
“We said we want to be partners and welcome investments in energy and infrastructure projects,” Momen told journalists in a separate briefing at his office.
