'BD has potential for halal food export'

There is immense potential for exporting the country's halal food products abroad, commerce secretary Md Jafar Uddin said on Wednesday.

Halal food items have huge potential for exports across the globe and the market has been increasing gradually.

Time is high to tap the export market of such food products, Mr Jafar observed.

He was speaking as the chief guest at a workshop on building certification capacity for halal foods organised by commerce ministry in Dhaka city.

"We have huge capacity to export halal items. The growing export market opportunity for the items must be utilised," the secretary said.

"Bangladesh is going to become a developing country in 2024. Then there will be no benefits from export trade, including GSP facility. It's a big challenge for the export sector."

There is no alternative but to expand opportunities to boost the export trade, Mr Jafar mentioned.

Earlier, the ministry initiated to introduce a certification system in the name of 'health certificate' for exporting food consignments, especially halal food, to increase the volume of export earnings.

The workshop was aimed at devising necessary strategies in this regard, a source said.

Despite having potential, Bangladesh is yet to enter the markets of Muslim countries, including United Arab Emirates and gulf countries, with halal food, meat and beverage items, sector insiders said.

Halal food is considered the most diverse sector of Islamic countries, they added.

Commerce ministry's WTO cell director general (additional secretary) Md Hafizur Rahman chaired the event.

Additional secretary Md Obaidul Azam, high officials of the ministry and stakeholders concerned participated in the event.

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