Remarks

Remarks by Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. Judith A. Chammas at U.S. Trade Show Opening Ceremony

Hotel Sheraton, Dhaka

February 8, 2006

Thank you Andrew for your warm welcome and thank you Minister Khan for joining us this morning.  Asalamu alaikum, namaskar and Good Morning.  Mr. Minister, friends from the Bangladesh and American business communities, representatives from the media, our partners from the American Chamber of Commerce in Bangladesh, ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the fifteenth annual U.S. Trade Show. 

This is the first U.S. trade show that I have had the pleasure of participating in since my arrival in Bangladesh, and I am pleased to be a part of it.  I had the opportunity to visit the Trade Show the last two years and was able to see the wide array of products offered by U.S. companies in Bangladesh.  The turnout this morning is a clear sign that the future of U.S. business in Bangladesh holds great promise.  I believe that our trade links are a reflection of a close bilateral relationship that is getting both deeper and broader.

This trade show itself is another example of our commitment to strengthening the U.S.-Bangladesh business relationship.  The exhibitors here today play an important role in Bangladesh in a variety of sectors:  in various types of machinery and equipment, energy and power, agricultural products, banking, and in the growing high-tech sector.

The purpose of this event is to showcase American products and services that are available in Bangladesh, and thereby promote American exports so that we can make success in these business sectors happen.

From January to November of last year, the United States imported almost $2.5 billion in goods from Bangladesh, while Bangladesh only imported less than $300 million from the U.S.  This significant trading advantage in Bangladesh’s favor has persisted for the last few years, and suggests that all of us need to re-double our efforts to promote the benefits of American goods and services.

American products are of high quality and are available at affordable prices.  And I am confident that when buyers in Bangladesh get to know the superb quality of U.S. products, they will turn to the United States for more and more of their imported purchases.
You will not find a higher commitment to technology, innovation and customer service from any other place than the United States.  I am confident that customers throughout this country will recognize this.

In closing, let me express my appreciation to the American Chamber of Commerce.  We, along with many Bangladeshi business, media, and government leaders, have benefited from the Chamber’s continuing efforts to showcase trade and investment opportunities for U.S. firms in Bangladesh.  Bangladesh is on the map for a lot of American business executives, and a big part of the reason for that are the AMCHAM and this annual Trade Show. 

In addition, I would like to express my thanks to Mr. Andrew Fawthrop, President of the American Chamber, Mr. Abdul Gafur, the Chamber’s Executive Director, and members of the Chamber’s Executive Board for their fine work in stimulating public policy discussions.
The U.S. Embassy is strongly committed to the success of business in Bangladesh.  The staff of the Embassy’s Political/Economic Section and I are always available to help representatives of U.S. business and to assist those here looking to purchase goods and services from the U.S. 

So I invite all of you to visit the U.S. Trade Center booth inside the exhibit hall, and to learn more about our Trade Center.  I also invite you to visit our website, and would also like to inform those businesspersons in Dhaka, Chittagong, Khulna and Sylhet that they may also visit their respective Chamber of Commerce and Industries’ libraries and ask to see the “U.S. Business Reference Section.”

To all of you -- organizers, participants, and visitors -- welcome to the U.S. Trade Show 2006!

Note:  A Bangla translation of this article is also available from the American Center.  If you are interested in the translation, please call the American Center Press Section (Tel: 8813440-4, Fax: 9881677; e-mail: DhakaPA@state.gov; Website: dhaka.usembassy.gov