Visa eyes major investment in digital economy
Photo: BNP Media Cell
Visa Asia-Pacific President Stephen Karpin held a courtesy meeting with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at the Secretariat on Tuesday.
PM’s Deputy Press Secretary Shahadat Hossain Shadhin confirmed the matter. Karpin expressed Visa’s interest in investing and expanding business within Bangladesh. He said the country holds immense potential for advancement in the fields of digital financial services, technology, and innovation.
Karpin added that the company intends to work through investment and technical cooperation to encourage bank account holders who do not use cards to begin using them and to broaden the scope of digital transactions.
He also conveyed that Visa is interested in utilizing Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology to make the banking and digital payment systems of Bangladesh safer, simpler, and faster.
The meeting also involved discussions regarding the possibility of expanding the use of Visa cards in various government and public service systems, including the Metro Rail, toll plazas, and expressways, to facilitate the daily transactions of ordinary citizens.
Moreover, Karpin said Visa is keen to contribute to the growth of the digital economy and creative economy in Bangladesh.
The meeting also deliberated on the process of establishing an effective digital payment system for freelancers in Bangladesh to safely and easily bring their foreign earnings into the country. Visa was invited to set up a technology development center or a Global Service Center in Bangladesh to create employment opportunities.
Tarique welcomed private sector partnerships in expanding digital financial services and technology in Bangladesh. He underscored the importance of cooperation with international organizations like Visa to enhance the nation’s digital economy, investment, and technological capacity.
Several high-ranking officials attended the meeting, including PM’s Adviser Rehan Asif Asad, Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) Executive Chairman Ashik Chowdhury, Bangladesh Bank Governor Md Mostaqur Rahman, and other senior officials from Visa.
