US Special Envoy for South and Central Asia Sergio Gor has proposed that Bangladesh join the US-led Pax Silica initiative, saying the country has significant potential to become a partner in the global economic security alliance focused on artificial intelligence, semiconductors and critical mineral supply chains.
Gor made the remarks during a courtesy meeting with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at the Prime Minister’s Office in Tejgaon on Saturday morning, in a warm and cordial atmosphere, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
During the meeting, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman highlighted Bangladesh’s strong interest in attracting investment in the information technology sector. Gor said Bangladesh has considerable potential in the sector and could participate in the Pax Silica initiative in the future.
Pax Silica is an international economic security alliance led by the US State Department, launched in December to strengthen global supply chains for artificial intelligence, semiconductors and critical minerals. Led by US Under Secretary of State Jacob Helberg, the initiative aims to bring together partner countries to reduce technological dependencies.
Gor said the US government has strong confidence in Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s leadership and noted that stability has returned to Bangladesh under his leadership.He said the United States’ recent positive revision of its travel advisory for Bangladesh reflected that confidence and would send an important message to US investors that Bangladesh is ready for investment.
The meeting also discussed the Rohingya crisis. Gor shared his observations from his visit to Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar and praised the Bangladesh government and people for providing shelter and humanitarian assistance to the displaced Myanmar nationals.
Prime Minister Tarique expressed gratitude to the US government and people, noting that more than half of the international assistance for Rohingya refugees comes from the United States.
Gor stressed the need for a sustainable and political solution to the Rohingya crisis.
The two sides also agreed to work together to resume product testing activities in Bangladesh with support from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The prime minister urged greater US investment in Bangladesh, particularly in storage facilities for soybean, cotton, wheat and other agricultural products. He said such investment would help build stronger and more competitive supply chains.
Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman attended the meeting along with Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Humaiun Kobir, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaid Islam, Prime Minister’s Advisers Rehan Asif Asad and Mahdi Amin, Bangladesh Ambassador to Washington Tareq Mohammad, US Ambassador to Bangladesh Brent Christensen, and senior officials from both sides.
