Ambassador Miller traveled to Sylhet October 21-23 in support of the growing partnership between the United States and Bangladesh and the country’s strategic importance to a free and open Indo-Pacific region.
Ambassador Miller touredChevron’s Bibiyana Gas Plant and met with Chevron Bangladesh President Neil Menzies to discuss increasing U.S.-Bangladesh trade and investment. During the tour of the Bibiyana Plant, Ambassador Miller learned how Chevron, through itssubsidiaries in Bangladesh, contributes to the Indo-Pacific Strategy’s economic and security pillarsby promoting Bangladeshi energy independence. He congratulated Chevron on being the largest producer of natural gas in the country, accounting for over 55% of total domestic production. He also applauded Chevron Bangladesh’s commitment to hire Bangladeshi nationals, roughly 95% of its workforce, and its corporate social responsibility programs benefitting the local communities where it operates through economic development, education, and health initiatives.
Ambassador Miller attended a dinner with the Sylhet Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI). During the dinner, Ambassador Miller joined the SCCI Board of Directors and prominent members of the Sylhet business community in a robust discussion about how to increasefree, fair, and reciprocal trade between the United States and Bangladesh, and ways the two countries can work together to open moreBangladeshi sectorsto trade and investment with U.S. firms.
He also met with Sylhet Divisional Commissioner Mustafizur Rahman and Sylhet Deputy Commissioner Kazi Emdadul Islam todiscuss antitrafficking-in-persons efforts in the northeastern Sylhet region. He reiterated that working with Bangladesh to counter trafficking-in-persons and to increase access to services for survivors of trafficking is a top priority for the U.S. government.
While in Sylhet, Ambassador Miller visited the Ratargul Special Biodiversity Conservation Area (SBCA) to observe how U.S. contributions have helped strengthen Bangladesh’s capacity to respond to natural disasters and protect the environment. These and other USAID efforts to increase Bangladesh’s resilience to natural hazards will further U.S. and Bangladeshi environmental prioritiesin the region.
The U.S. vision for the Indo-Pacific region is a whole-of-government effort, conducted in close collaboration with nations in the region, including Bangladesh, to promote respect for national sovereignty, the rule of law, market-based economics, and free, fair, and reciprocal trade principles.
Ambassador Miller’s visit to Sylhet is one of many initiatives of the U.S. Embassy in Bangladesh this year to promote greater cooperation, dialogue, and mutual understanding between Bangladeshis and Americans; and, underscores Bangladesh’s strategic importance to a free and open Indo-Pacific region.