We have increased imports from the United States, now additional assistance should be received: Finance Minister

Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury has commented that Bangladesh should receive more assistance in the context of the development of relations with the United States and the import of a large amount of goods from that country. He said this to journalists after a meeting with the officials of the Treasury Department of the United States in Bangkok on Wednesday.

The Finance Minister said that discussions were held in the meeting on debt management, US assistance and the overall relations between Bangladesh and the United States. Besides, discussions were also held with the representatives of the Exim Bank of the United States and the assistance-related organisations of that country.

Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury said, “In the past days we have not received much from the United States. But the way Bangladesh-United States relations have advanced, we are buying a number of aircraft from the United States; we are importing various products and commodities including oil and soybean. Therefore additional assistance for us should come from them. They have agreed on this matter. Now let us see.”

The Finance Minister informed that importance is being given in the economic policy of the government on increasing direct foreign investment and joint investment by reducing dependence on loans. He said that long discussions have also been held with the Exim Bank of the United States on this matter. He expressed hope that Bangladesh will be able to advance on this path.

The Finance Minister said, “The main emphasis of our economic policy is investment. We want to move away from loans and go more towards direct investment and joint investment.”

Raising the matter of the large amount of goods imported by Bangladesh from the United States, Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury said that due to the import of various products including aircraft, oil and soybean, impact is also falling on the balance of foreign transactions of Bangladesh along with the commercial relations of the two countries.

The Finance Minister said, “We have strongly told them that when Bangladesh is importing so much from the United States and where the relations of the two countries have stood, if this support does not come from the side of the United States now, then when will it come? The assistances that we are expecting should come now.” He informed that the concerned sides of the United States have agreed with this position of Bangladesh. However, how much and in what way the expected assistance is actually received is now a matter to be seen.