US firm Abt Associates Inc and Bangladesh Firm Development Management and Engineering Consultants Ltd (DM&E) have launched their joint collaborative activities in the country.

A gathering of businessmen and industrial elites was organised at a city hotel on Sunday to mark the occasion, says a press release.

Speaking at the launching ceremony, the Minister for Industries and Commerce. Tofail Ahmed said "Bangladesh welcomes not only foreign direct investment but also participation and consultancy ip the management sector involving development activities."

The function was also addressed by Dr A Majeed Khan. Chairman of the Board of Directors of DM&E, Samir Zaman. president of DM&E and CEO and Brigadier Abid R. Khan (retd). Executive vice president and COO of DM&E.

The gathered elite exchanged views on improving consultancy services in the country.

DM&E is a multi-disciplinary consulting and professional services firm based in Dhaka.

It has joint collaboration agreements with several leading universities and consulting firms in Bangladesh and the United States to share resource and information for the best interest of the clients.

DM&E has-been operating in Bangladesh market since last year.

Abt Associates Inc. is one of the leading policy research and management consulting firm in

the US. providing quality services to businesses and governments throughout the world, with its headquarters in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

It has corporate offices in eight countries across the globe. Bangladesh is the latest addition in its marketing area, and it employs about a thousand professional and technical staff.

John S Tilney Jr. who is the Managing Vice President of Abt Associates Inc. explained the activities while addressing the gathering.

He lea a team of senior management consultants from USA for the function.