China has expressed a keen interest in importing mangoes from Bangladesh during the upcoming season. Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen voiced this interest at a meeting with Agriculture Minister Dr Md Abdus Shahid, held at the secretariat on Monday.
Senior officials of the agriculture ministry said, an expert delegation from China wants to visit mango plantations and production activities in Bangladesh during the mango ripening period.
The delegation wants to come to Bangladesh early June. Based on the delegation’s report, China's customs department will give final approval for the import of mangoes from Bangladesh.
Agriculture Ministry Additional Secretary Malay Chowdhury, Joint Secretary Md Mahmudur Rahman, Economic and Commercial Counselor of the Chinese Embassy Song Yang, and others were present at the meeting.
Desiring China's investment in agriculture, the minister said, “China’s investment and technical cooperation is needed to modernise and mechanise Bangladesh's agriculture.
“China’s cooperation is especially needed in this regard so that the country's farmers can get modern agricultural machinery at a low price, because we can buy machines from China at a relatively low price.”
Earlier in the day, Irma van Dueren – the ambassador of the Netherlands appointed in Dhaka – had a meeting with the agriculture minister.
The meeting emphasised on increasing mutual cooperation in the agricultural sector and working together on strengthening agricultural research and technology exchange.
Besides, the meeting discussed the construction and operation of an onion storage facility at Bhaluka, Mymensingh, under the initiative of the Netherlands government. It is said onions can be stored all year round in this store.
Shahid said at the meeting, “Onion is a very important crop for us. To become self-sufficient in onions, we are emphasising on increasing production and preserving onion. The Netherlands government is playing a very helpful role in the construction of this storage facility.”
It should be noted that the onion storage built at Bhaluka in Mymensingh, on the initiative of the Netherlands government, will be inaugurated by the Minister of Agriculture on May 2.
