China wants mango, jackfruit from Bangladesh

China expresses interest in importing tropical fruits such as mangoes, jackfruit, and guava from Bangladesh, according to the 12th Foreign Office Consultations held in Dhaka on Saturday.

The Chinese delegation, led by Vice Minister Sun Weidong of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, also proposed importing frozen foods from Bangladesh that meet necessary quality specifications.

Bangladesh has witnessed a significant increase in mango exports over the past few years, with taste playing a vital role in combating competitors despite challenging conditions.

The Ministry of Agriculture reports that mango exports from Bangladesh reached approximately 310 tonnes in the fiscal year 2018-19, followed by 283 tonnes in 2019-20, 1,632 tonnes in 2020-21, and 1,757 tonnes in 2021-22. This represents a remarkable 467% growth in mango exports over the past three years. Middle Eastern countries have been the primary destinations for Bangladeshi mangoes, while the United Kingdom, Sweden, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Germany also present significant markets with great potential. Now, China emerges as another potential market for Bangladeshi mangoes.

During the consultation, Bangladesh requested China to include additional export items such as vegetables, pharmaceuticals, raw hides, footwear, and non-knit apparel in the Duty and Quota Free (DFQF) coverage to address the existing trade imbalance between the two countries.

The discussions also focused on leveraging the DFQF access to 98% of products, which came into effect on September 1, 2022, to boost exports to China.

The Chinese vice minister expressed willingness to encourage Chinese farms to invest in the Chinese Special Economic Zone in Chattogram. Additionally, they advised timely notification of interest to the Chinese Civil Aviation Authority to resume the direct flight between Dhaka and Guangzhou, operated by Biman Bangladesh Airlines. Both sides agreed to establish regular Consular Consultations to address visa-related issues, particularly for Bangladeshi students. Bangladesh also expressed interest in collaborating with China on innovation in digital technologies and biotechnologies.