The US is committed to working with the countries of Indo-Pacific region including Bangladesh to expand economic connectivity, alliances and partnership.
The statement was put forward by Daniel N Rosenblum, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Bureau of South and Central Asia in the US Department of State at a discussion titled 'The United States and the Indo-Pacific Region' at Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) yesterday.
Rosenblum said the US highly appreciated the role of Bangladesh in maintaining international peace and security as one of the world's largest contributors of international peacekeeping forces.
Stressing the need for facilitating intra-regional trade, Rosenblum said: “Bangladesh will be benefited from regional trade connectivity, both in terms of soft and hard infrastructure.”
However, Rosenblum also recognised Bangladesh as a potential area for facilitating bilateral trade and maritime cooperation as part of US New Asia Policy.
In response to duty free access to US market, US Ambassador to Bangladesh Marcia Bernicat said duty free access for textiles has been granted for Least Developed countries and the countries having trade agreement with US.
“As Bangladesh is reaching towards lower middle income state, we are hoping for reciprocal trade agreement to facilitate our trade with Bangladesh,” she added.
Ambassadors, officials from different ministries of Bangladesh, researchers, teachers and representatives from different organizations have also participated in the discussion.
Thursday, April 25, 2024
