Expats, foreigners urged to invest in agro sector

Agriculture Minister Abdur Razzaque has urged expatriates and foreign investors to invest in Bangladesh’s agriculture sector.

He made the request at a seminar titled “Agriculture development and investment opportunity in value addition and export” at the Bangladesh pavilion in the World Expo in Dubai on Tuesday.

The agriculture, food, and fisheries and livestock ministries organised the seminar.

“There are huge opportunities for investors in Bangladesh’s agriculture sector. I urge foreign investors and Bangladeshi expatriates to invest in agro processing, value addition, and export,” the minister said.

He said there are favourable conditions for investing in agriculture while the government would provide every kind of support.

Razzaque said Bangladesh has surplus production of different crops, and there are huge possibilities of exporting vegetables, fruits, fish, and other products.

These products are currently being exported to different countries, but Bangladeshi expatriates are the main consumers, he said. 

“We want to enter the main markets in foreign countries. To this end, several initiatives have been taken up by the government, such as producing safe food, establishing accredited laboratories, and providing certifications.”

Bangladeshi expatriates as well as businessmen from Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), India, and Pakistan attended the seminar.

Shaikh Mohammad Bokhtiar, executive chairman of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council, and Monzur Morshed Ahmed, a member of Bangladesh Food Safety Authority, presented the keynote.

The keynote highlighted success in agriculture, fisheries, and livestock as well as the initiatives taken up for ensuring safe food availability.

Ambassador of Bangladesh to the UAE Md Abu Zafar presided over the seminar, which was moderated by Md Ruhul Amin Talukder, additional secretary of the agriculture ministry.