About 45 senior businesspeople and executives representing roughly 25 leading US industrial and commercial firms will visit Bangladesh late next week to explore increased American investment. Prime Minister’s Office spokesperson Mahdi Amin announced the planned visit at a press briefing in Tejgaon, Dhaka, on August 1. The delegation is scheduled to meet officials from government ministries and offices, as well as Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.

Amin said the visit follows a courtesy meeting between Rahman and Sergio Gor, the US president’s special envoy for South and Central Asia. According to the spokesperson, the meeting covered economic ties, trade, investment, export growth, import activity and new areas of bilateral cooperation. He said both sides discussed ways to increase US investment in Bangladesh, expand bilateral trade and strengthen US companies’ role in creating jobs.

Amin also said the US State Department had revised its Bangladesh travel advisory from Level 3 to Level 2, which the government described as a positive signal for investors, businesses, tourists and global engagement. The government expects the upcoming delegation’s visit to create opportunities for new investment, expanded trade and long-term economic cooperation. Rahman separately met local business representatives Saturday to discuss investment conditions, energy shortages, tax reform and investment in industrial zones.