Local businesses Sunday sought Indian cooperation in food processing with technical support to set up cold storage for preservation of agro-products in Bangladesh.
They made the call at the inaugural function of a two-day 'Indian Agro Products Buyers-Sellers Meet 2018' at a city hotel, amid the country's weakness in preservation system as compared to the agriculture produces.
State minister for finance MA Mannan was present as chief guest of the programme.
Agricultural and Processed Food Export Development Authority (APEDA) in association with the Indian High Commission in Dhaka organised the event, supported by the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) and India-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IBCCI).
Addressing the function, FBCCI president Shafiul Islam (Mohiuddin) said that Bangladesh produces so many things, but doesn't have the preservation system that much.
"We do not have secondary industry like processing that is very important and necessary. We have the opportunity to collaborate with India," he said.
India has the technology and the business community there could come forward to have that kind of industry here for the benefit of both the countries, said the apex trade body leader.
He said Bangladesh exports processed food and beverage worth US$ 900 million, 60 per cent of which comes from shrimp and fish.
Bangladesh needed cooperation from India, especially in terms of standards, quality maintenance, packaging, preservation and transportation, he added.
He, however, mentioned that the North East and West Bengal of India have untapped potentials, especially in agro and agro-processing industry.
IBCCI president Abdul Matlub Ahmad said that Bangladesh grows agro products in abundance but cannot preserve, causing off-seasonal price spiral. India has cold storage facilities for onion as they consume onion most. The technology is not available in any other countries.
"We will set up 50 onion cold storages in Bangladesh and West Bengal, each having 500 tonnes of capacity. For this, we need modern technology, which only India can offer. We will stabilize the onion price," he said.
India exports agro-products (including cotton) worth $ 33.35 billion out of total export earnings of $ 275.8 billion while bilateral trade between India and Bangladesh now stands at around $ 1,135 million.
India exports to Bangladesh fresh fruits and vegetables, onion, cereal preparations, basmati and non-basmati rice, maize, dried and preserved vegetables and groundnuts.
Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Harsh Vardhan Shringla said India has a large food processing industry with a separate ministry on food processing. India imports food worth up to $ 4.0 billion.
The scope for bilateral trade in food and food processing area is huge in terms of joint manufacturing, joint ventures and technology transfer as the industry size is $ 25 billion, he added.
Regarding the complaints on visa for the Bangladeshi businesses, he said that Indian high commission issues five-year multiple-entry visa not only for big companies or groups but for the small and medium entrepreneurs too.
He said India has taken steps to remove few hindrances in exporting food products to India. The country also has agreed to accept the product certification by Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI).
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