Economy Desk: Finance and Trade Adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed. He said this in response to reporters’ questions after a meeting with the US delegation at Padma State Guest House on Sunday (September 15).
He said we talked with the US delegation today. Our main discussions were with their Treasury Department and USAID. Especially the financial reform and the cooperation that is needed in the financial sector. Second in trade, we discussed export diversification and trade in different technical assistance or market exploration. We will go ahead with the action plan; they have assured cooperation in this regard.
Regarding the development cooperation agreement, the finance adviser said it has added another $200 million to the agreement that was made earlier. It is added to what was there before. That means they will pay more money.
And the Economic Relations Department (ERD) informed us that the United States has been a trusted development partner of Bangladesh since 1972. Under an umbrella agreement titled ‘Economic Technical and Related Assistance’ signed in 1974, the US has contributed over US$8 billion so far in various sectors such as democracy and governance.
The United States provides most of its development assistance in the areas of food security, health and education, and global climate change through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and a number of other public and private agencies.
ERD also informed us that on September 27, 2021, a new Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the government and USAID for the years 2021–27. They have pledged a total of $954 million to implement it.
Brent Neiman, Deputy Under Secretary of the US Department of Revenue, led the US delegation at the meeting. US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Donald Lu was present at the meeting.
Meanwhile, in a meeting with Foreign Affairs Adviser Touhid Hossain, the United States promised to expand economic activities with Bangladesh, increase institutional capacity, uphold human rights, and provide support in combating the risks of climate change.
After the meeting with the two advisers, the chief adviser at the State Guest House Yamuna. The US delegation met with Muhammad Yunus.
A US representative is visiting Bangladesh for the first time since the interim government led by Professor Yunus assumed power on August 8.
