President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Wednesday said there is scope to make the Bangladesh-US Agreement on Reciprocal Trade more balanced and mutually beneficial, taking into account the economic realities and interests of both countries.

The President said the agreement marked an important step towards expanding trade relations between the two countries.

He came up with the remarks when US Ambassador to Bangladesh Brent T. Christensen paid a courtesy call on him at Bangabhaban.

During the meeting, the President recalled the past US investment and cooperation in the development of Bangladesh’s agriculture sector, including support for the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute and Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute.

He urged the US to further increase investment and cooperation in the country’s agriculture sector.

The President also highlighted the investment and significant role of US-based Chevron in Bangladesh’s energy sector and called for increased US investment in the country’s energy sector.

He said Bangladesh has significant potential in various sectors, including information technology, infrastructure, healthcare and high-tech industries.

The President also emphasised the importance of technology and skills transfer.

He urged the United States to review and simplify the existing ‘visa bond’ system for Bangladeshi businesspeople and genuine tourists travelling to the US.

He sought continued US support for ensuring the safe, dignified and sustainable repatriation of the Rohingyas to their homeland.

The US ambassador assured the President of continued cooperation and stressed the need to strengthen cooperation among ASEAN countries in this regard.

During the meeting, Ambassador Christensen congratulated Mirza Fakhrul Islam on assuming the office of President and conveyed his best wishes to him.

Thanking the ambassador, the President said the US is one of Bangladesh’s important development and trade partners.

He said the existing trade relations between the two countries have been playing an important role in Bangladesh’s economic development.

Bangladesh believes in maintaining friendly relations with all countries and expanding bilateral and multilateral cooperation, the President said.

He said Bangladesh attaches the highest importance to the principles of independence, sovereignty, national interest, mutual respect and equality in international relations.

The President expressed hope that bilateral relations with the US would be further expanded in the days ahead through mutual respect and protection of shared interests.

The US ambassador reaffirmed his country’s interest in further deepening and broadening its relations with Bangladesh.

The President’s secretaries and senior government officials were present at the meeting.