Exporters invite stakeholders to visit major zones

The Bangladesh Frozen Foods Exporters Association (BFFEA) has invited senior state officials and key stakeholders to visit the major frozen seafood processing zones in Khulna, Chattogram, and Cox's Bazar, sources say.
Experts view this as a bid to secure policy support as the sector grapples with mounting compliance challenges and slowing export momentum.
In a letter sent to the finance ministry on January 15, the BFFEA said the proposed visits would offer firsthand exposure to the industry's "complete export value chain," covering shrimp and fish farming, processing, and export-oriented regulatory compliance.
The Khulna-Chattogram-Cox's Bazar belt is widely regarded as the heart of Bangladesh's frozen and seafood industry, playing an important role in foreign exchange earnings and rural employment.

Industry observers argue the initiative resembles an image-management exercise at a time when international buyers are tightening scrutiny over quality control, traceability, and bio-security - areas where Bangladeshi exporters have faced repeated questions.
According to export data and market feedback, frozen food shipments showed only modest growth in recent years, while regional competitors gained market share by improving certification, logistics, and end-to-end traceability.
Once the country's second-largest export earner, frozen food has now slipped to the seventh place, highlighting a steady erosion of competitiveness.
BFFEA officials say the itinerary of the visits has been designed to demonstrate the industry's preparedness to meet rigorous global standards.
The proposed programmes include field inspections of shrimp farms and processing plants, assessments of compliance with international food safety protocols, and high-level meetings with association leaders in Khulna and Chattogram to discuss sectoral development, they add.
The association plans to use the platform to highlight what it describes as "key issues, opportunities, and challenges" affecting export earnings, as well as to seek policy backing to help achieve revenue targets.
"We believe the insights will greatly encourage the industry and contribute to strengthening the frozen food export sector," the BFFEA said in its invitation.
Experts, however, caution that official visits alone may do little to restore buyer confidence without concrete reforms.
They point to frequent rejections in the European Union (EU) and US markets linked to jelly-injection allegations and antibiotic residues, which continue to undermine Bangladesh's reputation.
Adding to the pressure is the country's upcoming graduation from the least developed country (LDC) status.
The potential loss of duty-free access under the EU's Everything but Arms (EBA) scheme could impose tariffs of around 10 per cent on frozen seafood exports, squeezing the already thin margins, say experts.
"Unless the industry moves beyond lobbying and addresses structural weaknesses through transparent audits, stronger enforcement, and measurable compliance improvements, guided tours will not change market realities," an industry insider says.
The push for official engagement comes as exporters warn that without urgent policy and institutional support, Bangladesh risks losing further ground in the highly competitive global frozen seafood market.
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