Meta Positive About Opening an Office in Bangladesh: Shama Obaed
Meta contemplates to open an office in Bangladesh. Collected image.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam has said discussions have been held with social media giant Meta about opening a regional office in Bangladesh. Bangladesh earlier proposed the initiative during meetings held in New York and the San Francisco Bay Area's Silicon Valley.
The state minister said having a Meta office in Bangladesh would help ensure customer service and strengthen the company's accountability in addressing complaints and other problems. She added that Meta was considering the proposal positively.
She shared the information at a press briefing held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday, where she discussed her experience visiting Silicon Valley and meeting with various US technology companies.
Shama Obaed said Bangladesh has one of Facebook's largest user markets. Meta's direct presence in the country would therefore play a significant role in strengthening digital security, she added. During the visit, the high-level delegation also held meetings with more than 15 leading global technology companies, including Meta, Sifco, Apple, Nvidia and Google.
Junior minister for foreign affairs, Shama Obaed. BSS photo.
She said the visit was arranged under the guidance of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, with the aim of creating employment opportunities for young people and building a technology-driven economy. Discussions covered artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, startup development, digital infrastructure and the launch of “Bangla AI.” The meetings also paved the way for institutional discussions on establishing technology manufacturing hubs in Bangladesh and attracting foreign direct investment (FDI).
The junior minister also said significant progress had been made toward signing memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with the University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley) and Arizona State University to promote cooperation in education and research.
Meanwhile, addressing rumors that the PMs visit to San Francisco had been canceled, Shama Obaed said there had never been any prior plan for him to travel there. The delegation had been sent to carry out practical works, she explained. She urged mainstream media outlets not to be swayed by rumors and to verify information before publishing reports.
