Dhaka: Food, Fisheries and Livestock and Agriculture Minister Mohammad Amin Ur Rashid today announced that Bangladesh will enhance its capacity and take initiatives to export food items to the Japanese market. “Food security is gaining importance globally. If our food safety meets international standards, food exports will become easier. Cooperation from all is required for this,” he stated.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the Minister made these remarks during a meeting with a delegation led by Chief Representative ICHIGUCHI Tomohide of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) at his office. He emphasized the opportunities and demand for Bangladeshi food exports in the global market, underscoring the need for necessary initiatives to facilitate these efforts.
The meeting included detailed discussions on the “Food Safety Testing Capacity Development Project,” implemented in Bangladesh with JICA’s support. This ten-year project, valued at Taka 2,409.70 crore, aims to establish a food safety reference laboratory in Dhaka, two food testing laboratories in Chattogram and Khulna, and a training building, alongside other capacity development activities. These initiatives are set to enhance food safety testing capacity across the three divisions.
The Food Minister urged all stakeholders to identify challenges within the food system, from production to sale, and take appropriate measures to ensure safe food for the population. He extended his gratitude to JICA for financing the project and expressed hope that its successful implementation would establish discipline in the country’s food system.
Senior officials from JICA and ministry officials, including Food Secretary Md. Firoz Sarker, were present at the meeting.