FE REPORT
Experts at a roundtable on Monday emphasised the need for Bangladesh to attract more investment and enhance production capacity to meet the rising demand for protein, which is expected to double by 2050.
They suggested vertical expansion in poultry and livestock production through innovation and the adoption of the latest technologies.
They also urged the government to formulate necessary policies and provide structural support to the local poultry industry, with a focus on facilitating exports to international markets.
The roundtable, held with the support of the Netherlands Embassy in Bangladesh, was jointly organised by Larive International, LightCastle Partners, and the Bangladesh Poultry Industries Central Council (BPICC).
Local industry leaders, development partners, academics, and representatives from government agencies attended the roundtable.
ABM Khaleduzzaman, Director (Production) of the Department of Livestock Services (DLS); Dr SM Zobaidul Karim, Joint secretary, Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock; Amadou Ba, Senior Agri Economist, World Bank; Thjis Woudstra, Charge d'affaires, Embassy of the Kingdom of Netherlands; Shamsul Arefin Khaled, President, Feed Industries Association Bangladesh & BPICC; Moshiur Rahman, President, World's Poultry science Association - Bangladesh Branch; spoke at the event.
BPICC President Shamsul Arefin Khaled stressed the need for building consensus and ensuring stakeholder compliance to ensure a steady supply of protein to the market.
"Large corporate producers across the value chain, in particular, must adhere to the government's policies and strategic directives," he said.
Agri Economist Amadou Ba said the World Bank is assisting the poultry industry in Bangladesh in maintaining hygiene standards and ensuring quality production, with the goal of preparing the sector for export markets.
He mentioned that the International Finance Corporation (IFC) of the World Bank Group is helping Bangladesh's private sector enhance its production quality and meet growing protein demands.
Paragan Group Chairman Mashiur Rahman said the country's poultry industry is striving to become sustainable, with a focus on achieving zero carbon emissions and producing high-quality protein.
The industry is not only focused on meeting local demand but is also working to become technically advanced in order to expand its market abroad, he added.
He emphasised that since poultry is Bangladesh's primary source of protein, the government and other stakeholders will have to work together to expand the industry and ensure its sustainability.
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