Thursday, 03 July, 2025
Thursday, 03 July, 2025

Smart Bangladesh needs greater economic connectivity: Peter Haas

Staff reporter
  05 Feb 2023, 23:11

US Ambassador in Dhaka Peter Haas today said a Smart Bangladesh needs greater economic connectivity to take its place as a leader on the world stage.

 ". . . For Bangladesh to be more connected to the global economy and see increased trade and investment, global businesses must find a welcoming, enabling business environment in Bangladesh," he said.

Haas was addressing a panel discussion on "Online Freedom and Business Investment in Bangladesh" at EMK Centre in the capital, said a press release.

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman also attended the panel discussion.

The US Ambassador said: "We've heard from U.S. businesses about their desire to invest and grow their business here. The Bangladesh market is very attractive. For this very reason, we recently opened a Foreign Commercial Service office at the embassy".

Haas said since arriving in Bangladesh nearly a year ago, he has been impressed by the rapid pace with which Bangladesh is stepping into the digital age - from FoodPanda to bKash and beyond.

And Bangladesh's aspirations to transition from Digital Bangladesh to Smart Bangladesh highlight its ambition to play a key role in the digital world of this century, he mentioned.

"At the same time the world is changing quickly. In every country, governments and societies are facing dramatic changes due to the breakneck speed of new technologies," he said.

Haas said: "The challenges of accommodating these technological advancements and adjusting our legal and regulatory frameworks to reflect these changes confront us all-in the United States, in Bangladesh, and around the world. The online world has provided us with immense opportunities and significant challenges".
 
Governments everywhere must try to find a way to govern this online space responsibly and the user data that accompanies it, while simultaneously protecting people's freedom of expression, he said.

"One of our mission's priorities here in Bangladesh is a sustainable and broadly shared prosperity realized through the expansion and diversification of Bangladesh's economy-an economy open to greater regional and global trade," the US ambassador said.

Comments

  • Latest
  • Popular

Contempt of court: ICT jails Hasina for six months

Observe July Uprising each year to check autocracy's reemergence: CA

CA opens month-long programme on July Uprising

36 Bangladeshis detained in Malaysia over militancy links

Anamul Ambia, presidential candidate announces boycott of BAAC election in Connecticut

Meeting with China, Pak not for alliance building

Bangladeshi workers pay the price when Australian fashion brands collapse

China hopes for free and fair elections in Bangladesh

Trump says Iran and Israel agree to a ceasefire

Details of Department Press Briefing on June, 2025

১০
Anamul Ambia, presidential candidate announces boycott of BAAC election in Connecticut
Anamul Ambia, a candidate for president of the Bangladeshi American Association of Connecticut (BAAC), has
Details of Department Press Briefing on June, 2025
Tammy Bruce, Department Spokesperson Washington, D.C. Press Briefing June 20, 2025 2:45 p.m. EDT MS BRUCE: Thank you, ma’am. Thank you
Pakistan to nominate Trump for Nobel Peace Prize
Pakistan said today it would recommend US President Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize,
The details of Department Press Briefings for U.S. Department of State on June 17, 2025
Tammy Bruce, Department Spokesperson Washington, D.C. Department Press Briefing – June 17, 2025 June 17, 2025 2:22 p.m. EDT MS