Commerce Adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed has emphasized the need to boost shrimp production in Bangladesh by leveraging technology, citing declining production due to traditional farming methods.
He noted that the demand for Bangladeshi shrimp is high in international markets, but without increased production, export opportunities will diminish.
The Adviser made these remarks while addressing a meeting with leaders of the Bangladesh Frozen Foods Exporters Association (BFFEA) at the Ministry of Finance on Monday.
He stated that the government has revamped the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) and the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA), creating a favourable investment environment. He urged business leaders to increase private sector investment.
Kazi Belayet Hossain, president of the Bangladesh Frozen Foods Exporters Association, highlighted that processing factories have been unable to fully utilize their production capacity for over a decade due to a shortage of raw materials.
He also pointed out that the demand and prices for Bangladeshi shrimp and fish have decreased due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine conflict, while domestic prices have increased, further impacting exports.
During the discussion, industry leaders called for shrimp to be declared an agricultural product, the establishment of separate economic zones for the shrimp industry in Khulna and Chattogram, the setting of distinct interest rates for shrimp exports by banks, and the settlement of outstanding cash assistance.
The meeting was also attended by Md. Abdur Rahim Khan, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce, along with senior officials from the Bangladesh Frozen Foods Exporters Association, including Senior Vice President Ashraf Hossain Masud and member Shyamol Das.
