BAPA Foodpro Expo kicks off tomorrow

The three-day 10th BAPA Foodpro International Expo-2025 is going to begin in the city tomorrow (Tuesday) where over 200 leading food and beverage companies from 22 countries will exhibit their products.

Bangladesh Agro-Processors' Association (BAPA) and Rainbow Exhibition and Event Management Services (REEMS) are jointly organising the international exposition at International Convention City Bashundhara (ICCB).

Organisers made the announcement at a press conference held at the Economic Reporters' Forum (ERF) in the capital on Sunday.

Commerce Adviser Sheikh Bashir Uddin will inaugurate the show that will continue until February 27.

Besides, Italian Ambassador to Bangladesh Antonio Alessandro, Charge d'Affaires of the Netherlands Embassy in Bangladesh Andre Carstens and Song Yang, economic and commercial counsellor of Chinese Embassy in Bangladesh, will be the guests of honour at the opening ceremony.

Two more fairs named "12th Agro Bangladesh Expo 2025" and "Food Ingredient Expo 2025" will be held along with this one.

In addition to the exhibition, panel discussions will be held at the fair that will remain open to all.

Fair Committee Chairperson, PRAN-RFL Group Chairman and CEO Ahsan Khan Chowdhury, said, "Our country's agro-processing sector is doing very well. This sector is not only working on food security in the country but also enriching the country's economy by earning a lot of foreign exchange by exporting products abroad. Through this event, the agro-processing sector is playing an important role in showcasing our capabilities to the world."

BAPA President Md Abul Hashem said BAPA has been working tirelessly for the development of the food processing sector since its inception.

BAPA's main goal is to ensure development of this sector and move forward in line with the international level, he said, adding the path to development in any sector is blocked without ensuring the use of upcoming technology.

Therefore, BAPA is always striving to ensure that Bangladesh does not lag behind in this sector in any way, he continued.

He further said in addition to ensuring development of the food processing sector in Bangladesh, BAPA is also working relentlessly to produce and export food products of international standard.

Currently, BAPA has 479 members who are exporting processed food from Bangladesh to more than 145 countries of the globe.

The contribution of the agricultural sector to the country's GDP is 22 per cent while the contribution of the processed food sector is 2 per cent.

BAPA has expressed optimism to increase this export amount to US$ 2.0 billion by 2027.

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