The New Nation - Internet Edition

BANGLADESHI manufacturers, according to a recent newspaper report, have been making strides in strengthening and expanding their position in the multibillion dollar global market of processed food items with their export proceeds posting a 119 per cent rise in the first fiscal year. The annual earning from export of more than $60 million in the current fiscal year may cross $100 million mark in the next fiscal year as Agricultural Marketing Company Limited- that leads in exporting processed food-alone is targeting to earn $30 million by 2009 against its earning $10 million in 2006. Agro-processed foods including biscuits, candies, jam-jellies and fruit juice had grown by 119 per cent in the 2006-07 fiscal year to $23 million. Whatever is the figure now in earnings by exporting processed food items; the achievement in getting positive response is remarkable with the expectation of expanding the export base in the days to come, as one exporter was quoted to have said. At present, the AMCL that markets its products under 'Pran' brand accounts for more than 50 per cent of the country's total export proceeds from agro-processed foods. Some other companies also have become serious in exploring export markets and Bangladesh's Export Promotion Bureau senses that many of them will eventually become bulk exporters within a year or two. Only 15 of the country's 200 modern agro-processing units have seriously explored the export markets. Long-term vision and effective marketing efforts are essential for new companies to gain space in export destinations. It is encouraging to mention that exporters here have found a highly potential market in Africa with the taste, choice and consumption of the people there complementary to the business. India, too, would be a very potential market if tariff and para-tariff barriers are not there. Lack of advanced and attractive packaging facility and high freight costs are the factors that affect the competitiveness of Bangladeshi exporters and force them to lag behind their counterparts of India, Pakistan, China, Malaysia and Thailand. To cite an example, specifically it was pointed out that while an Indian exporter needs $500 to ship a container of food items, for a Bangladeshi exporter the cost is $1500. Despite growing demands in the export market in recent years, the Export Promotion Bureau's list of agro-processed foods does not include frozen beef, mutton, chicken and mustard oil and excludes agricultural produces like fresh fruits, vegetables, spices, betel nut, refined and edible oil though the country earned $88 million by exporting these items in the current financial year.

Frozen shrimps and fish that account for the second largest chunk of the export earning pie after apparels, earned $512 million in the last fiscal year. Exporters here from our country are active and innovative and can go ahead with their ventures provided peace, stability and tranquillity prevail in the country.