High officials of US Investment Bank Goldman Sachs will meet Finance Minister AMA Muhith tomorrow to engage in a dialogue how the firm can best serve the financial needs of Bangladesh.
According to finance ministry sources, the meeting will discuss about financing of Padma bridge construction through issuing sovereign bonds and other financial options Goldman Sachs could offer for the Padma bridge and similar infrastructure projects.
They said the Padma funding issue will be discussed with the New York-based investment bank as it has significant experiences in assisting its sovereign bond clients in strategic and capital incentive projects.
The meeting will also talk about if Goldman Sachs will be adviser of sovereign bonds to be issued by Bangladesh, particularly for construction of the country's biggest ever project. Efforts to attracting foreign investment into the country's capital market will also be on the meeting agenda, officials said.
Besides, in the meeting finance minister will seek assistance from Goldman Sachs to improve local corporate houses to that of global standard.
The government asserted Bangladesh is a good performer in repaying its loans to foreign lenders and this comparative advantages will also be placed in the meeting.
Last month, Goldman Sachs sent a letter to finance minister expressing its interest for such a meeting with the government.
The much-talked-about Padma bridge construction needs a foreign funding of $1.8bn, according to the government.
In November 2013, Bangladesh was included by Goldman Sachs among the next eleven economies identified for having great opportunities for investment in foods and beverages, technology, textiles, leather tanning and real estate.
But Bangladesh has to take a lot of infrastructural development projects to achieve expected economic growth while there is a thirst for low-cost financing to implement such works.
The meeting will also be attended, among others, by Finance Secretary Mahbub Ahmed and Economic Relations Division Secretary Mohammad Mesbahuddin.