Photo: Video Screenshot

DHAKA, August 13, 2026 (BSS) – US business leaders have expressed interest in helping create new employment opportunities in Bangladesh to accelerate economic growth, as the government and the US private sector discussed ways to increase investment and deepen economic ties between the two countries, said Prime Minister’s Adviser and Prime Minister’s Office Spokesperson Mahdi Amin.  

“Very detailed and positive discussions were held with the US delegation on how cooperation from the American private sector can help increase foreign investment, create new jobs and accelerate Bangladesh’s economic progress,” he told journalists after a meeting with a 50-member delegation of the US-Bangladesh Business Council at the Prime Minister’s Office at Bangladesh Secretariat.

The meeting was held with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, with 50 senior business leaders and executives representing 25 leading US companies taking part in the discussions.

Mahdi Amin described the discussions as ‘highly productive and effective’ and the talks focused on expanding US investment in Bangladesh and further strengthening the longstanding trade and economic relations between the two countries.

He said the meeting also discussed how the US private sector could play an effective role in implementing the government’s election manifesto and various policy initiatives.

The Prime Minister’s Adviser said the US business representatives showed particular interest in contributing to faster economic growth through the creation of new employment opportunities.
He expressed hope that the visit by representatives of 25 leading US companies would help make Bangladesh-US economic relations more sustainable and further strengthen the partnership between the two countries.

“We firmly believe that through this successful meeting with the Prime Minister, we have moved one step closer to realising our vision of building a self-reliant and prosperous Bangladesh,” he said.

Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer of Excelerate Energy Oliver Simpson and President of the US-Bangladesh Business Council and Senior Vice President for South Asia at the US Chamber of Commerce Ambassador (retd) Atul Keshap led the delegation. 

Atul Keshap also described the meetings with the Prime Minister and his government as highly productive, expressing appreciation for the warm hospitality extended to the delegation during its Bangladesh visit.

Keshap said US companies were proud to be Bangladesh’s largest foreign investment partners.

 “We bring the highest standards of administrative expertise, business ethics and modern technological capabilities,” he said, expressing satisfaction at completing successful bilateral discussions with the Bangladesh government.

He said the delegation had listened carefully to the Prime Minister’s visionary outlook for Bangladesh’s future, particularly his commitment to harnessing the country’s exceptional human resources and immense potential of its people.

Keshap said they were fully confident about the Prime Minister’s vision of transforming Bangladesh into a $1 trillion economy by 2034.

“We believe that the private sector can be one of the most powerful catalysts for accelerating the welfare of the people and economic prosperity of Bangladesh by bringing technology, global experience and adequate capital,” he said.

Keshap described Bangladesh as “truly a country of immense potential”, noting that several American companies had built partnerships with the people of Bangladesh over many decades and continued to contribute to job creation, revenue generation and overall economic progress.

“We are committed to maintaining and further strengthening this strong relationship in the future,” he said.

As a representative of the US Chamber of Commerce, Keshap said they had witnessed the current government’s “specific and highly positive approach” towards social development, public welfare, job creation and maintaining balance in macroeconomic indicators.

“This has deeply inspired us. We will convey this positive message to the US business community through our respective organisations and the US Chamber of Commerce and share with them our experience of this remarkable visit,” he said.

Keshap also thanked the Prime Minister, members of the government, secretaries, advisers and all concerned for the excellent hospitality extended to the delegation.

“We look forward to seeing our sustainable partnership with the Bangladesh government and people grow stronger in the coming decades,” he said.

The US delegation included representatives of 25 leading companies and organisations, including the US-Bangladesh Business Council, US Chamber of Commerce, Excelerate Energy, Chevron, Meta (Facebook), Visa, US Soybean Export Council, MetLife, Boeing, Uber, Asia Group, APR Energy, Venva, VF Corporation, Corteva Agriscience, Salesforce, Ulka Semi, Pathao, Cisco, Abbott, Metrotac, HSBC Bank, Standard Chartered Bank, Encore and Drinkwell.

Among other members of the delegation were Mastercard Senior Vice-President for Global Public Policy and Indo-Pacific Policy Operations Ravi Arora, Mastercard Bangladesh Country Manager Zakia Sultana, Meta South Asia Director of Public Policy Cha Yuen Ting, Meta Bangladesh Head of Public Policy Ruzan Sarwar, US Soybean Export Council Executive Director for the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia Kevin Roepke, US Soybean Export Council Bangladesh Country Team Lead Khabibur Rahman, Visa Vice President and Head of Government Affairs for India and South Asia Anand Vijay Jha, and Visa Country Manager for Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan Sabbir Ahmed.

Boeing President for South Asia and India and Vice President of Boeing Global Salil Gupte, Chevron Bangladesh Managing Director and President Shu Xiong, MetLife Senior Vice President for Bangladesh, Malaysia, Nepal and Vietnam Elena Butarova, Uber Head of Public Policy and Government Relations for Asia-Pacific Pia Brunner, and US-Bangladesh Business Council Executive Director for Bangladesh and South Asia Sidhanta Mehra also spoke at the meeting.

US Chamber of Commerce Senior Director for South Asia Patrick Pitts, US-Bangladesh Business Council Director for South Asia Udaya Arun and US-Bangladesh Business Council Director Debi Chatterjee were also present.

Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman, Industries Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir, Prime Minister's Adviser on Finance and Planning Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Aninda Islam Amit, Prime Minister's advisers Humaiun Kobir and Rehan Asif Asad, Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) Executive Chairman Ashik Chowdhury and PM's Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumon, Private Secretary Md Mehedul Islam and Deputy Press Secretary Jahidul Islam Rony, among others, were present at the meeting.