The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry has sought cooperation from the Japan International Cooperation Agency in establishing laboratory facilities in land ports, seaports and international airports of the country, said a press release issued by the FBCCI.
The country’s apex trade body made the call during a meeting held with representatives of JICA and the Bangladesh Food Safety Authority at the FBCCI office in the capital Dhaka on Thursday.
FBCCI senior vice-president Mostofa Azad Chowdhury Babu said, ‘North-Eastern states of India have a huge demand for Bangladeshi food and agro products and lab facilities in land ports will facilitate exporting these products to those states.’
Airport and seaport laboratories will aid Bangladesh in exploring global food market, he said.
He urged JICA to come up with a financial and technical assistance project.
FBCCI vice-president Md Amin Helaly said, ‘A significant part of the agricultural produces gets tarnished due to poor supply chain and preservation system and also farmers are deprived of fair prices.’
He urged JICA to extend its assistance in food processing and preservation at the upazila level.
The BFSA and JICA will jointly undertake a project for establishing a reference laboratory and training complex in the country, Rezaul Karim, a member of the BFSA, told the meeting.
Teruaki Fujii, a representative from the JICA head office, stressed ensuring safe food in order to achieve a sustainable food security.
JICA’s upcoming project will create scope for the private sector food processing industry to flourish, he said.
FBCCI secretary general Mohammad Mahfuzul Hoque urged JICA to collaborate with the FBCCI to set up private testing laboratories in the country.
FBCCI directors Mohammad Anwar Sadat Sarker and Md Rejaul Kariem Rejnu were also present in the meeting.
