The government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the sustainable development of Bangladesh's fisheries sector through continued investment in technology-driven, environmentally sustainable and commercially viable aquaculture.
The commitment was reiterated by Netherlands Ambassador to Bangladesh Joris van Bommel while inaugurating the Aquaculture Center of Excellence (CoE) at Tarakanda in Mymensingh under the FoodTechBangladesh programme.
Director General of the Department of Fisheries (DoF) Dr Md Khaled Kanak attended the event as the chief guest.
Senior officials from the Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute (BFRI), the DoF, Fishtech (BD) Limited and representatives from government agencies, development partners, research institutions and the private sector were also present.
Speaking at the event, Ambassador van Bommel said the Centre of Excellence would help farmers adopt modern aquaculture technologies, strengthen investor confidence and support the long-term growth of Bangladesh's fisheries sector.
Dr Kanak said higher productivity could be achieved despite limited land resources through the adoption of appropriate technologies and closer collaboration between the government and private sector.
Speakers said the centre would serve as a hub for practical learning, research and technology demonstration, while promoting modern aquaculture practices, expanding market opportunities and supporting sustainable growth in the fisheries sector.
Launched in 2022, FoodTechBangladesh is a five-year public-private partnership programme (PPP) co-funded by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Bangladesh and implemented by Larive International and LightCastle Partners.
The initiative works with Bangladeshi and Dutch private-sector partners to strengthen the aquaculture value chain through technology transfer, farmer training, digital farm management and improved market linkages.
Since its launch, the programme has conducted more than 60 commercial trials and provided online training to over 800 farmers and in-person training to nearly 600 farmers.
During the event, project officials demonstrated technologies including In-Pond Raceway Systems (IPRS) and Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS), which are designed to improve fish productivity, water and feed management, and the commercial efficiency of aquaculture operations.
With the inauguration of the Mymensingh facility, FoodTechBangladesh now operates four Centers of Excellence in Khulna, Mymensingh, Cox's Bazar and Patuakhali.
Bangladesh is currently the world's fifth-largest inland aquaculture producer. In fiscal year 2023-24, the country produced about 5.02 million metric tonnes of fish, with inland aquaculture accounting for 59.34 per cent of total production.
However, fish and fish products contribute only about 1.0 per cent of the country's export earnings, indicating significant scope for improving productivity and expanding exports.