Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith said Thursday that export earnings from fisheries sector could be ten times higher if businessmen concerned concentrate on fish processing rather than mere fish export.
"Current $600 million export earnings from fish eries sector could easily be 10 times higher if we focus on processing and value addition to the fish export," he said while speaking at the inauguration ceremony of 2nd International Exhibition of Dairy, Aqua and Pet Animal (IEDAP).
Animal Health Companies of Bangladesh (AHCAB) organized the three-day exhibition at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC).
Fisheries and livestock Minister Sayedul Haque, Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FBCCI) President Kazi Akram Uddin Ahmed spoke at the event while AHCAB President Momin Ud Dowlah was in the chair.
Former president of AHCAB MM Khan and former Director General of Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute, Dr Golam Hossain presented two papers at the function.
The minister said there would be budgetary steps to reduce price of fish feeds.
He urged businessmen to use local ingredients for making fish feeds instead of importing those from abroad to save foreign currency.
Fisheries and Livestock Minister Sayedul Haque urged finance ministry for increasing budgetary allocation for the fisheries and dairy sector.
"Government is not focusing on development of fisheries and dairy as much on agriculture and poultry though all these are agri sector", he said.
The minister said Bangladesh did not utilize even half of its potential of the fisheries and dairy sector.
He expressed the hope that these sectors can contribute immensely in reducing unemployment, human resource development and export earning if get policy support.
FBCCI President Kazi Akramuddin Ahmed urged the government to give subsidy in fisheries and dairy sectors.
He said government should diversify export products and fisheries, livestock and dairy products could help achieve export diversification.
