Chief adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus had several meetings with the head of goverments and business leaders of different countries on the sideline of the 80th United Nations General Assembly at New York in the USA on Wednesday.
The chief adviser has introduced six political leaders accompanying him at the 80th United Nations General Assembly with top US companies, encouraging them to expand investments in Bangladesh.
鈥業t was a big meeting. Prof Yunus spoke and called upon US companies to invest more in Bangladesh,鈥� chief adviser鈥檚 press secretary Shafiqul Alam told reporters after the event.
The US-Bangladesh Business Council (USBBC) hosted the roundtable discussion titled 鈥楿S-Bangladesh Executive Business Roundtable: Advancing Reform, Resilience and Growth鈥� at a New York hotel on Wednesday.
Senior executives from leading US companies and major investors in Bangladesh, including MetLife, Chevron and Excelerate Energy, attended the meeting.
Prof Yunus introduced six political leaders of Bangladesh with the US businesses and highlighted that a new political government will be formed through a fair election scheduled for February next year.
鈥楶rof Yunus introduced them with the US business community so that they could get to know each other better,鈥� said press secretary Alam.
Bangladesh鈥檚 political delegation included BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, BNP leader Humayun Kabir, Jamaat-e-Islami Nayeb-e-Ameer Syeed Abdullah Muhammad Taher, Jamaat leader Mohammad Nakibur Rahman, National Citizen Party (NCP) member secretary Akhter Hossen, and NCP first senior joint member secretary Tasnim Jara.
Talking to reporters, Jamaat leader Taher praised the initiative and said US investors expressed encouragement.
Foreign affairs adviser Md Touhid Hossain, energy adviser Fouzul Kabir Khan, and leaders of the USBBC were present.
Later in another meeting, Kosovo president Vjosa Osmani has proposed the signing of several trade and economic agreements with Bangladesh to further strengthen bilateral ties between the two countries.
During the meeting with chief adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, she specifically recommended a bilateral agreement in the textile sector, citing significant potential for collaboration and mutual benefit.
The meeting, held at a New York hotel, covered a range of issues of mutual interest, including migration, trade, commerce and people-to-people exchanges, said deputy press secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder.
She highlighted Kosovo鈥檚 recent economic progress, stating that the country has recorded the highest GDP growth in the region for the second consecutive year.
Osmani noted that an increasing number of Bangladeshi nationals are working in Kosovo, making valuable contributions to its economy.
Prof Yunus invited President Osmani to visit Bangladesh and encouraged the dispatch of a Kosovan trade delegation to Dhaka to explore economic opportunities.
Law Adviser Dr Asif Nazrul, who was also present at the meeting, emphasised the importance of signing a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the recruitment of Bangladeshi workers.
Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni is expected to visit Bangladesh in December this year. The meeting between the chief adviser and the Italian prime minister provided an opportunity to discuss the 鈥榮afe migration鈥� issues to combat irregular migration flows.
She also proposed the establishment of an Italy-Bangladesh Business Forum aimed at promoting Italian investment in Bangladesh.
They particularly discussed ways to establish closer cooperation on returns and to support legal migration flows, for example through vocational training programmes in Bangladesh for workers specialised in sectors that are in demand from Italy鈥檚 productive system.
She underscored the need for stronger measures to combat human trafficking, which has claimed the lives of hundreds of migrants in the Mediterranean.
When Professor Yunus highlighted the importance of further expanding trade relations between the two countries, the Italian Prime Minister proposed for Italy-Bangladesh Business Forum.
Yunus welcomed the initiative, noting that while the two countries share longstanding ties, there remains significant potential to expand trade and investment cooperation.
Pakistan prime minister Shehbaz Sharif also discussed ways to deepen economic relations between the two countries by expanding the existing bilateral trade, chief adviser鈥檚 press secretary Shafiqul Alam told reporters after the meeting.
During their meeting, the two leaders discussed a wide range of issues, including Bangladesh鈥檚 upcoming general elections, reforms introduced by the interim government, the recent devastating floods in Pakistan, trade and investment, and prospects for regional cooperation, Alam said.
With SAARC largely inactive in recent years, the two leaders also discussed alternative avenues to enhance regional cooperation.
Later, commerce adviser Sk Bashir Uddin and Pakistan prime minister鈥檚 trade coordinator Ihsaan Afzal Khan on Thursday discussed ways to enhance bilateral trade and investment, strengthen economic cooperation, and take commercial relations to a new level.
The meeting was held at the adviser鈥檚 office in the Secretariat in the morning.
Adviser Bashir Uddin said Bangladesh鈥檚 cement industry heavily relies on imported raw materials particularly limestone and construction-grade stone.
Bangladesh needs around 50 million tons of stone annually and for this greater engagement between businesses of both countries is necessary, he said.
He said improving labour productivity, utility proportion, logistics excellence, cost of finance and market access can help expand the limited trade basket between the two countries.
This will reduce the trade deficit and strengthen people-to-people ties, he added.
He stressed the need for creating greater opportunities for Bangladeshi exporters in the Pakistani market.
Pakistan PM鈥檚 Trade Coordinator Ihsaan Afzal emphasised the importance of removing existing barriers to trade and expanding facilities.
鈥榃e want to significantly increase trade volume by strengthening direct contacts between business communities, exchanging trade missions and reducing tariff and non-tariff barriers,鈥� he said.
Mahbubur Rahman, secretary of the Ministry of Commerce and Ayesha Akter, additional secretary (FTA) were, among others present at the meeting.
