Sushmita Saha, Dhaka – The American Chamber of Commerce in Bangladesh (AmCham) aims to attract an additional $5 billion in US investment to Bangladesh over the next four and a half to five years, with the 30th US Trade Show, scheduled for November 5–7 in Dhaka, expected to help advance the initiative. AmCham President Syed Mohammad Kamal announced the target at a press conference in the capital, saying the trade show would help connect investors with opportunities in Bangladesh.
“We are not claiming that the entire $5 billion investment will materialise. However, this trade show will facilitate the achievement of the target,” Kamal said. He noted that Bangladesh had received approximately $5 billion in US investment over the past 15 years. AmCham has discussed the possibility of attracting a further $5 billion over the next four and a half to five years with the government. The chamber also raised the investment target during a meeting with the Prime Minister on August 11.
Kamal said Bangladesh had considerable potential to attract additional American investment, but energy security remained a major factor influencing investors’ decisions.
“AmCham is working with the government on this issue, and we expect to receive an energy roadmap from the government soon,” he said. A dedicated seminar on the energy sector will be held during the three-day trade show to discuss related challenges and investment opportunities.
Kamal said AmCham was focusing on sectors where US technology and innovation could generate significant value and help Bangladesh expand its economic potential. Rather than pursuing investment indiscriminately across all industries, the chamber is prioritising areas where American expertise could contribute to greater value addition.
Representatives of American chambers of commerce from several countries are expected to attend this year’s event. Investors from companies that have yet to establish operations in Bangladesh will also participate. AmCham considers attracting 10 to 12 new companies to invest in Bangladesh one of the key potential outcomes of the exhibition.
According to the organisers, 36 companies and seven startups will participate in the exhibition, which will feature 63 booths. Major US companies participating in or represented at the event include Caterpillar, Chevron, ExxonMobil, MetLife, Citigroup, Mastercard, Visa, Colgate-Palmolive, Philip Morris International, PepsiCo, Costco, PPG, UPS and Cargill.
The exhibition will feature dedicated zones covering power and energy, information technology and the digital economy, banking and financial services, consumer goods, manufacturing and logistics, education, and agribusiness. Additional attractions will include a startup zone, a carnival zone for direct shopping, and a heritage corner showcasing the history of the US Trade Show in Bangladesh.
Six thematic seminars will be held during the three-day event, focusing on power and energy, healthcare and medical technology, information technology and the digital economy, women in leadership, investment opportunities in the United States through SelectUSA, and Bangladesh-US trade relations.
Industry experts and government representatives will take part in the discussions. The exhibition will remain open to visitors daily from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm. AmCham launched the US Trade Show in Bangladesh in 1992. After remaining suspended for several years, the event is returning following a gap of approximately two and a half years.
This year also marks the organisation’s 30th anniversary. Paul G. Frost, Commercial Counsellor at the US Embassy in Dhaka, attended the press conference.
