Play store
Visa Asia-Pacific President Stephen Karpin met Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Tuesday and expressed the global payments company’s interest in expanding investment and business operations in Bangladesh.
The courtesy meeting was held at the Cabinet Division of the Bangladesh Secretariat.
During the meeting, Karpin highlighted opportunities for Visa to support Bangladesh’s digital financial services, technology and innovation sectors through investment and technical cooperation.
He said Visa is interested in helping expand card usage among bank account holders who currently do not use cards and in increasing the reach of digital transactions across the country.
Visa also expressed interest in using artificial intelligence to make Bangladesh’s banking and digital payment systems safer, faster and more convenient.
The two sides discussed expanding Visa card acceptance across public services and infrastructure, including metro rail, toll plazas and expressways, to make everyday transactions easier for citizens.
Karpin also said Visa wants to contribute to the growth of Bangladesh’s digital and creative economies. The meeting also explored ways to develop more efficient digital payment systems to help Bangladeshi freelancers securely and conveniently bring their overseas earnings into the country.
The Bangladesh side invited Visa to establish a technology development centre or global service centre in the country to create employment opportunities and strengthen local technological capacity.
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman welcomed greater private-sector participation in expanding digital financial services and technology in Bangladesh. He stressed the importance of cooperation with global companies such as Visa in strengthening the country’s digital economy, attracting investment and developing technological capabilities.
Adviser to the Prime Minister on Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology and Science and Technology Rehan Asif Asad, BIDA Executive Chairman Ashik Chowdhury, Bangladesh Bank Governor Md Mostaqur Rahman and senior Visa officials were also present at the meeting.