Visa Asia-Pacific President Meets with PM

Visa President for Asia-Pacific Stephen Karpin today expressed the global financial technology company’s interest in expanding its investment and business operations in Bangladesh.

He expressed the interest during a courtesy call on Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at the Cabinet Division of Bangladesh Secretariat here this morning.

During the meeting, Karpin said Bangladesh has significant potential for Visa to work in digital financial services, technology and innovation, said Prime Minister’s Deputy Press Secretary Shahadat Swadhin.

Karpin said Visa wants to work through investment and technological cooperation to encourage bank account holders, who do not yet use cards to adopt card-based transactions and to expand the scope of digital payments in Bangladesh.

He also expressed Visa’s interest in using artificial intelligence (AI) technology to make the country’s banking and digital payment systems more secure, convenient and faster. 

The meeting also discussed 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 make everyday transactions easier for people, the deputy press secretary said.

 Karpin said Visa is also interested in contributing to the development of Bangladesh’s digital economy and creative economy.

The meeting discussed developing an effective digital payment system to enable Bangladeshi freelancers to bring their foreign earnings into the country securely and conveniently, Shadhin said.

The Visa representative was also invited to establish a technology development centre or global service centre in Bangladesh to creating employment opportunities in the country.

In the meeting, Shadhin said, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman welcomed private-sector partnership in expanding digital financial services and technology in Bangladesh.

The Prime Minister also stressed the importance of cooperation from international companies like Visa in strengthening Bangladesh’s digital economy, investment and technological capabilities.

Prime Minister’s Adviser on Posts, Telecommunications, Information Technology, Science and Technology Rehan Asif Asad, Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) Executive Chairman Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun, Bangladesh Bank Governor Md Mostaqur Rahman and senior Visa officials were present at the meeting.