Steven Kobos, Chief Executive Officer of Excelerate Energy, has expressed interest in increasing investment in Bangladesh’s energy sector.
Kobos met with Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus at the State Guest House Jamuna in Dhaka on Tuesday.
The meeting focused on potential collaborations, with Excelerate Energy committed to expanding its operations and supporting decarbonization efforts in the country.
Kobos praised the leadership of Professor Yunus, noting that his role as Chief Adviser of the Interim Government has boosted business confidence in Bangladesh.
“There has been a lot of interest in Bangladesh from American companies since you took over,” Kobos said, adding that leading US firms, including members of the US-Bangladesh Business Council, are eager to explore business opportunities in the country.
Excelerate Energy, which currently operates two offshore Floating Storage and Regasification Units (FSRUs) supplying 1.1 billion cubic feet of gas daily—34 percent of Bangladesh’s total gas supply—plans to further scale up its operations to ensure a stable supply of liquefied natural gas (LNG).
Kobos emphasized that the company’s goal is to contribute more to Bangladesh’s energy security and decarbonization initiatives.
Professor Yunus welcomed the prospect of increased US investment, highlighting that his government is taking significant steps to enhance the business environment and attract foreign direct investment.
“You have come at the right time,” Yunus told Kobos and his delegation, expressing optimism about the future of US-Bangladesh business relations.
Kobos was accompanied by several high-ranking officials from Excelerate Energy, including Peter Haas, a former US ambassador to Bangladesh who now serves as the company’s Strategic Advisor, as well as Vice Presidents Derek Wong and Ramon Wangdi, and Country Manager Habib Bhuiyan.
Key figures from the Bangladeshi side included Lamiya Morshed, Senior Secretary and Head of SDG Affairs, Ashik Chowdhury, Chairman of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA), and Saiful Islam, Secretary of the Ministry of Energy.
The meeting builds on Yunus’ recent US visit, where he addressed the US-Bangladesh Business Council and invited its 50 member companies to invest in Bangladesh.