Expanding food processing capacity can boost exports significantly: Experts

Experts at a workshop have said entrepreneurs in the poultry processing sector, which can open up significant opportunities for boosting exports, face several challenges.

They also identified some challenges, including increasing the number of formal slaughterhouses, investing in sustainable infrastructure, prioritising food safety, adopting environmentally friendly practices, introducing advanced technologies, developing temperature-sensitive cold chain infrastructure to prevent spoilage, and promoting certification based on international quality standards.

Highlighting the potential of the sector, the experts and sector insiders said quality food processing supports more than 20 per cent of the country's workforce and plays a pivotal role in driving economic growth.

“As such, expanding food processing capacity not only reduces food waste but also opens up significant opportunities for boosting exports,” the said citing the latest data from the Industrial Development Leasing Company of Bangladesh Limited (IDLC-Bangladesh).

“In 2022, Bangladesh exported halal meat valued at $0.64 million to countries including the UAE, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, and the United States. With this in mind, enhancing food processing standards could significantly increase export opportunities to these markets.”

These insights were shared during a workshop on ‘Poultry Industry Processing’ held on recently at Gulshan, Dhaka, according to a statement.

The event was organized by the Netherlands Embassy in Bangladesh, Larive International, international business consultancy firm Lightcastle Partners, and the Bangladesh Poultry Industries Central Council (BPICC).

The workshop aimed to foster networking among industry stakeholders and discuss key recommendations for poultry industry entrepreneurs.

Ainan Tajrian, Business Consultant at LightCastle Partners moderated the event. Mr. Mostafa Kamal, Secretary, BPICC delivered the opening speech.

During the session, other notable guests attendants: Md Sazzad Hossain, Adviser, Communication and Media at BPICC, Naziba Ali, Business Analyst at LightCastle Partners. 

Subramani Horiharan, Account Manager at Marel, a leading multinational food processing company, delivered a presentation on this topic during the workshop

The workshop speakers also underscored four major areas for poultry industry entrepreneurs to prioritise: increasing infrastructure investment, prioritising food safety, adopting environmentally friendly practices, and integrating modern technologies into processing systems.

The event concluded with a closing address by Amber Van Sponsen, Emerging Market Advisor at Larive International.

Over 30 officials and representatives of different institutions such as Paragon, Aftab, Bengal Meat, AG Food, Pran, Provita and ACI Godrej Agrovet, among others, were among the participants.    

PoultryTech Bangladesh is a collaborative program under the Public-Private Partnership aimed at strengthening the poultry sector’s potential in Bangladesh. Larive International and Lightcastle Partners, supported by funding from the Netherlands government, have been instrumental in managing and implementing poultry industry projects over the past few years.

The event highlighted the growing demand for officially processed poultry products in Bangladesh. In just six years, daily chicken meat consumption has surged from 17.3 grams per person in 2016 to 26.2 grams in 2022. With commercial poultry farm growth at about 15 per cent annually, Bangladesh now produces 23.37 billion eggs and 1.46 million tons of poultry meat each year. As the market rapidly expands, significant infrastructure development in the poultry processing industry is crucial for sustained growth.