Business Report :
The US has assured Bangladesh of support in diversifying export products and exploring new markets to boost bilateral trade between the two countries.
Finance and Commerce Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed shared this with journalists on Sunday after a meeting with senior officials from the US Treasury Department and USAID at the State Guest House Padma in Dhaka.
There has been a discussion with the United States regarding the repatriation of money smuggled abroad, Dr Salehuddin Ahmed said.
In response to reporters following the meeting with the US Delegation at the Padma State Guest House, he said, “Our main discussion was with their Treasury Department and the USAID. It centred on financial reform and the cooperation that is needed in the financial sector. The second aspect was trade. We are looking for various technical assistance or market exploration in the trade sector.”
Ahmed said they would proceed with the action plan and the US delegation assured of its cooperation.
Regarding the development cooperation agreement of the USAID, the finance adviser said, it has added another $200 million to the agreement that was made earlier.
“That means they will give additional financial support,” he said.
Foreign Secretary Md Jashim Uddin, who was also present at the meeting, said, “We informed the delegation about the steps the government has already taken. The commitment of the US government to work with the interim government has been reiterated,” he said after the meeting with the delegation at the state guest house Padma.
“They expressed interest in knowing about the government’s reform plan. We have discussed various issues including possible areas of cooperation with the United States in regard to reforms in the financial sector and revenue sector, increasing bilateral trade and investment, labor environment, human rights protection, Rohingya repatriation and humanitarian assistance with the intention of economic reform at the shortest possible time.,” he added.
In response to a question, the secretary said that no discussion was held on Bangladesh elections, politics and Bangladesh-India relations in the meeting.