Move afoot to export fruits to Japan

A move is afoot to start export of Bangladeshi fruits, especially mango, to Japanese market as neighbouring India got permission recently to do the same.

Bangladesh's name is still in the banned list and the country is not authorised to export any fruit item to Japan. Recently, Japan removed the name of India from the banned list and added it in the same group along with other exporting countries like Philippines, Thailand, Brazil and Hawaii.

According to a recent communiqué between the Bangladesh Embassy in Japan and the Ministry of Commerce, Japan is a zero tolerant country particularly in respect of accepting any overseas product into its soil and wants total assurance on all the processes and measures are exhausted accurately in meeting the Japanese standard. "In case of agricultural products Japan put more cautionary attempts to keep safe the environment and products from harmful pests and insects," it said.

India had very long endeavour to get permission to enter Japanese market with mango…Bangladesh has to do the same to shape the hope into reality, it added.

Commercial Counsellor of Bangladesh Embassy in Japan Abul Mansur Md Faizullah quoting the Japanese experts who works in issuing 'no objection' onto the newly approached agricultural items said, " Bangladesh mango's marketability may be considered by the Japanese government if their requirements were fulfilled."

They suggested Bangladeshi officials to make formal approach to the Japanese government to receive permission.

The Commercial Counsellor in his letter to Commerce Ministry said, "Entering into the Japanese market with Bangladeshi mango is very complicated, once permission can be achieved for mango, it would ultimately help in taping market for other fruits."

He said obtaining of the permission would open new windows of establishing value added projects and create scope for more employment generation and foreign currency earning.

Sources said the Government will formally approach to the Japanese government to receive permission to export mango and other fruits soon.

At present Bangladesh does not export mango abroad rather is exporting other fruit items to some countries. Bangladesh depends on importing mango from neighbouring India to meet local demand.