Global financial technology leader Visa has announced plans to scale up its investment and operational presence in Bangladesh, focusing on digital payment infrastructure, artificial intelligence integration, and public transit systems.

The commitment was conveyed by Stephen Karpin, Visa’s President for Asia-Pacific, during a courtesy meeting with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at the Cabinet Division inside the Bangladesh Secretariat on Tuesday morning.

Briefing reporters after the high-level talks, Deputy Press Secretary to the Prime Minister Shahadat Shadhin stated that Karpin identified substantial growth potential for Visa across Bangladesh’s financial technology, innovation, and digital service domains.

Through targeted investments and technical cooperation, the multinational corporation aims to assist account holders who currently rely solely on traditional banking to transition toward card-enabled and electronic payments.

Highlighting technological upgrades, Karpin emphasized the firm's plans to deploy advanced security measures.

"Visa is also interested in using artificial intelligence to make Bangladesh’s banking and digital payment systems safer, easier and faster," Karpin noted during the discussions.

The dialogue also explored expanding Visa transaction systems across public sector operations and municipal transit networks, including the metro rail system, highway expressways, and toll plazas, to facilitate smoother everyday consumer commerce.

Additionally, Karpin expressed Visa's readiness to support Bangladesh's growing creative and digital economic sectors, with a special emphasis on establishing smooth, secure cross-border payment solutions for Bangladeshi freelancers to receive international earnings seamlessly.

In response, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman warmly welcomed expanded private-sector involvement in advancing the nation’s technology and financial ecosystems.

The Prime Minister underscored that strategic partnerships with global enterprise leaders like Visa are crucial for fortifying Bangladesh’s digital capacity, attracting foreign capital, and driving technological modernization.

To further deepen industrial cooperation, the Prime Minister formally invited Visa to set up a dedicated global service center or technology development hub within Bangladesh, generating high-skilled employment opportunities for local professionals.

The meeting was attended by key government figures and institutional leaders, including 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 a delegation of senior Visa executives.