Dhaka, Aug 17: The United States wants to help Bangladesh diversify its economy and improve trade, the new US envoy to Bangladesh told a news conference today. "Our priorities will be helping the Bangladeshi government and people to sustain this wonderful democracy, to diversify your economy and to improve trade. Those are my three major priorities," US ambassador Harry K. Thomas, who arrived here last week, said today at a conference held in the Bangladesh capital of Dhaka.

He said Bangladesh should make its export business more efficient and transparent to boost its trade and economy. American discount stores are major buyers of Bangladesh-made garments worth about USD 2 billion a year. U.S. Companies have invested nearly USD billion in the country USD700 million to explore and produce natural gas.

He said the poor South Asian country should also consider limited export of its natural gas, saying that one way for Bangladesh to become a middle income country would be "through the export of natural gas to a country of your choice in an honest and transparent manner." Bureau Report