Russia opens its door to Bangladesh frozen food
Sunday, 6 September 2009
Sonia H Moni
The country's ailing frozen food sector gets a much-needed boost after European giant Russia has for the first time approved four companies of Bangladesh to export fish and shrimp products to that country.
Russian inspectors examined seven Bangladeshi shrimp processing firms recently and gave the clearance to Bagerhat Sea Food Ltd, Fresh Foods Ltd, Apex Food Ltd and ARK Sea Food Ltd.
The approval means the four companies can now export Bangladeshi shrimps and other fish products to Europe's most populous nation subject to signing a formal deal between Dhaka and Moscow.
In the past, Russian importers used to buy a small amount of Bangladeshi frozen food via non-formal channels, mostly from a third party importer in a European nation.
The clearance means Bangladeshi exporters can export bigger quantity directly to the Russian buyers.
Officials said both countries would now sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) within a month, which would then allow the companies to export shrimps and other fish products through Russia's nearly 100 ports.
"It's a very good news for Bangladeshi fish exporters. And it came at a time when our frozen food industry is passing through one of the worst crisis," said Rafiqul Islam, director general of Fisheries Department.
"The Russian market is very important and has been growing rapidly over the last few years. Opening of this market would hugely boost our export," he said.
Islam said although initially four companies got the Russian veterinary and phyto-sanitary surveillance clearance, most of the country's top frozen food exporters would gradually win export approval.
The permission came after a high-power team of Russian food, sanitary and fish inspection team visited Bangladesh in May and examined the quality control facilities and standards of Bangladeshi food processing plants.
Exporters have hailed opening of the Russian market, as the country alone accounts for some 10 percent of the European market.
"After a series of bad news finally we have got something to cheer about. Russian market means a lot to Bangladeshi exporters. We hope it will end the gloom that's now prevailing in the sector," an exporter said.
The country exported 72888.62 metric tones of fish --- mainly sweet and saline water shrimps --- worth $534 million in the 2008-9, down nearly 15 per cent than the previous fiscal year.
Bangladesh Frozen Food Exporters Association said the fall was due to the global recession that has sapped demand for luxury food items such as shrimp in the west.
The frozen food industry also suffered a major blow when thousands of farms were destroyed and washed away by Cyclone Aila in May. The exporters said they lost 40 per cent of their production in the disaster.
In addition, local exporters were forced to voluntarily suspend shipment of fresh water prawn to Europe for six months to October following detection of toxic nitrofuran in the export cargoes.
The country's ailing frozen food sector gets a much-needed boost after European giant Russia has for the first time approved four companies of Bangladesh to export fish and shrimp products to that country.
Russian inspectors examined seven Bangladeshi shrimp processing firms recently and gave the clearance to Bagerhat Sea Food Ltd, Fresh Foods Ltd, Apex Food Ltd and ARK Sea Food Ltd.
The approval means the four companies can now export Bangladeshi shrimps and other fish products to Europe's most populous nation subject to signing a formal deal between Dhaka and Moscow.
In the past, Russian importers used to buy a small amount of Bangladeshi frozen food via non-formal channels, mostly from a third party importer in a European nation.
The clearance means Bangladeshi exporters can export bigger quantity directly to the Russian buyers.
Officials said both countries would now sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) within a month, which would then allow the companies to export shrimps and other fish products through Russia's nearly 100 ports.
"It's a very good news for Bangladeshi fish exporters. And it came at a time when our frozen food industry is passing through one of the worst crisis," said Rafiqul Islam, director general of Fisheries Department.
"The Russian market is very important and has been growing rapidly over the last few years. Opening of this market would hugely boost our export," he said.
Islam said although initially four companies got the Russian veterinary and phyto-sanitary surveillance clearance, most of the country's top frozen food exporters would gradually win export approval.
The permission came after a high-power team of Russian food, sanitary and fish inspection team visited Bangladesh in May and examined the quality control facilities and standards of Bangladeshi food processing plants.
Exporters have hailed opening of the Russian market, as the country alone accounts for some 10 percent of the European market.
"After a series of bad news finally we have got something to cheer about. Russian market means a lot to Bangladeshi exporters. We hope it will end the gloom that's now prevailing in the sector," an exporter said.
The country exported 72888.62 metric tones of fish --- mainly sweet and saline water shrimps --- worth $534 million in the 2008-9, down nearly 15 per cent than the previous fiscal year.
Bangladesh Frozen Food Exporters Association said the fall was due to the global recession that has sapped demand for luxury food items such as shrimp in the west.
The frozen food industry also suffered a major blow when thousands of farms were destroyed and washed away by Cyclone Aila in May. The exporters said they lost 40 per cent of their production in the disaster.
In addition, local exporters were forced to voluntarily suspend shipment of fresh water prawn to Europe for six months to October following detection of toxic nitrofuran in the export cargoes.