 Fisheries and Livestock Minister Sh M Rezaul Karim has called upon foreign importers and traders to import seafood from Bangladesh and invest in Bangladesh’s fisheries sector. The minister made this call during an exchange of views with importers and business representatives of various countries at the Bangladesh Pavilion at the Global Seafood Expo 2023 in Barcelona, Spain on Wednesday (April 26) afternoon local time. At this time, the minister also assured all kinds of cooperation from Bangladesh government to the foreign buyers in the case of fish export from Bangladesh. He also said that the Bangladesh government is ready to provide various facilities including tax exemption if they invest in Bangladesh’s fisheries sector. Besides, the minister also highlighted the various steps taken by the government to overcome the challenges and problems of exporting shrimp and other fishery resources of Bangladesh. At this time, the minister said that Bangladesh’s export income has increased by 26.96 percent in this financial year through the export of various fish and fish products including shrimp, finfish, dried fish, crab. The government is supporting the management of shrimp production in various ways, including providing matching grants to the private sector for the production of disease-free Bagda shrimp. Conversion of traditional shrimp hatchery to SPF hatchery, introduction of cluster-based shrimp farming system, increase in production of shrimp farms, improvement of supply chain quality, creation of digital database of existing shrimp farms nationwide, introduction of integrated e-traceability system, formulation of Fisheries and Fisheries Quality Control Act, 2020, European The government has taken various initiatives including implementation of the National Residue Control Plan in coordination with the Union policy, establishment of international quality laboratories in the country to control the quality of fish and fish products, regular inspection and monitoring, inspection of fish of importing countries and ensuring compliance with quality control rules and demands. At this time, the minister also said that there has been a revolutionary change in the fishery resources of Bangladesh. Bangladesh is gaining experience from the Global Seafood Expo held in Barcelona on various topics including how the fishery sector of different countries has developed, the use of technology in the fishery sector, fish processing, seafood export.
This year, the International Seafood Expo is being organized in Bangladesh and the minister invited the buyers and experts of various countries related to seafood to participate in this expo. The minister also added that the government has special initiatives in the country’s seafood sector. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is very sincere in the development of this sector. Intellectual and other resources are being invested in this sector in Bangladesh to survive in the competition of seafood exports around the world. In this case, the advice of foreign buyers and experts will be considered on priority. The government is working with all importance to raise the fish of Bangladesh to international standards. Stating that there is a favorable environment for investment in Bangladesh, the minister invited foreign buyers to visit Bangladesh’s fisheries sector. Mohammad Sarwar Mahmud, Ambassador of Bangladesh to Spain, Director General of Fisheries Department of Bangladesh b. Mahbubul Haque, Head and Joint Secretary of the Blue Economy Cell of the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock of Bangladesh. Abu Naeem Muhammad Abdus Chabur, Minister (Commercial) of Bangladesh Embassy, Berlin, Germany. Saiful Islam, Commercial of Bangladesh Embassy, Spain Counselor Md. Redwan Ahmed, Bangladesh Country Manager of Solidarity Network Asia Salim Reza Hasan, representatives and businessmen of various Bangladeshi fish exporters, representatives of Fisherman’s Choice and Seafood Connection from the Netherlands, H&F from Germany, Lenk Frozen Foods and Global Gap. Importers and business representatives of different countries were present at this time. Later, the minister visited the seafood pavilions of different countries at the ongoing Global Seafood Expo 2023 in Barcelona and exchanged views on seafood with their representatives.
