U.S. Ambassador to Dhaka Brent T. Christensen held a productive meeting with Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir, focused on increasing American investment in Bangladesh, ensuring transparency in major infrastructure projects, and further easing the country’s trade environment.
The meeting was held Monday at the FBCCI office in the capital.
The two sides held detailed discussions on expanding bilateral trade, energy-sector partnership, and recent policy reforms.
Raising the floating LNG terminal (FSRU) project, the U.S. ambassador said maintaining a transparent and competitive environment for major infrastructure initiatives would further strengthen foreign investor confidence. Noting that American companies are keen to work in Bangladesh, he emphasized ensuring open competition.
In response, Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir welcomed American investors and said that if U.S. companies can demonstrate the ability to supply an FSRU in the shortest possible time, their proposals will receive the highest priority. He said presenting an effective supply plan on a short timeline would strengthen their position.
On import policy, the ambassador said the new policy includes several positive changes worth commending, though some provisions could still be made more business-friendly. In response, the commerce minister said import policy is an ongoing process, with reforms regularly reviewed in line with market and economic realities.
Highlighting the removal of the old requirement for foreign companies to appoint local agents for strategic equipment purchases, the minister said allowing direct dealings with manufacturers has restored transparency to the process and curbed the influence of middlemen.
On energy cooperation, Ambassador Christensen described the agreement with international supplier Gunvor as a positive step. In response, the commerce minister assured him that the government is working to protect national interests as its top priority in every sector, and will continue to do so.
The meeting was also attended by Ministry of Industries Secretary Abdun Nasir Khan, Ministry of Commerce Joint Secretary Md. Mustafizur Rahman, and U.S. Embassy Economic Chief Angelo Palazzello.
Both sides expressed hope that regular dialogue of this kind would help take trade relations between Bangladesh and the United States a step further in the days ahead.