Dhaka to sign MoU with UK agency

Agriculture Minister Dr Md Abdur Razzaque on Tuesday said that a Memorandum of Understanding will be signed with the Food Standards Agency of the United Kingdom to increase exports of agricultural products to the European markets including UK.

“A Memorandum of Understanding is expected to be signed with the Food Standards Agency of the United Kingdom to assist in setting up modern testing labs, developing and issuing internationally accepted Phytosanitary certificates of agricultural products to increase exports of agricultural products to European markets including UK,” he said.

The minister, who is now visiting the UK, stated this while exchanging views with officials of FSA and government laboratory, said a press release.

Chief Scientific Adviser of the UK Food Standards Agency Professor Robin May, Deputy Government Chemist Selvarani Elahi, Head of EU and International Strategy Liz Stratton, FSA Scientific Sampling and Laboratory Policy David Franklin were present on the occasion.

The minister also exchanged views with the leaders of the British Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BBCCI) at the Bangladesh Embassy.

Meanwhile, he urged UK expatriate businessmen to invest in the country’s agricultural sector.

Bangladesh High Commissioner to the United Kingdom Saida Muna Tasnim, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture Md Ruhul Amin Talukder, Director General of Department of Agricultural Marketing Mohammad Yusuf, Head of Advisory Board of BBCCI Shahagir Bakth Faruk, among others, were present, the release added.