Razzaque seeks UK’s technical support to boost export

Agriculture Minister Mohammad Abdur Razzaque on Tuesday sought technological support from the UK in commercialistion of agriculture and processing agro-products to boost up exports.

The minister formally sought the assistance while British High Commissioner in Dhaka Robert Chatterton Dickson called on him at the ministry.

Razzaque said that despite significant success in producing crops, Bangladesh is still far behind in processing agro-products and exporting those to the global market.

“We have enough economical capacity now but we need technical and managerial cooperation. We need support from the UK to overcome this limitation,” he added.

He said expatriate Bangladeshis are the prime buyers of the little number of agro-products being exported to the UK. “We want to enter the mainstream European market of agro-products,” said Razzaque adding that the ministry would discuss with the UK trade bodies, top chain shops or owners of supermarkets to boost the export.

“Many crops remain surplus in the country and we have a lot of potential for processing fruits, potatoes and vegetables and export those,” he said.

Robert Chatterton Dickson assured Bangladesh to provide cooperation in boosting agricultural processing and export.

Initiatives will be taken to involve the private sector of Britain with a view to develop the agricultural sector of Bangladesh, Dickson added.

A delegation of public and private entrepreneurs led by the agriculture minister will also visit the UK and the Netherlands to increase exports of fresh vegetables and fruits and processed agricultural products to the European market.