The New Nation - Internet Edition

BANGLADESHI businessmen despite slow growth in exports of fresh vegetables and fruits are optimistic of the potentials of these sectors. According to the recent media reports, they believe they would be able to export more fresh produces provided they get 'one modern processing centre' for testing, sorting and packaging facilities and efficient and hassle-free airport services. They are for a modern processing centre to help them export more fresh produces by meeting requirements of buyers, especially in the European markets. The Bangladesh Vegetable and Allied Fruits Exporters Association has sought technical and financial supports besides allocation of land from the government for the centre.

The fresh vegetable and fruit exporters have now been facing stiff competition from their counterparts from Pakistan, India and Kenya in Middle-east markets including United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Kuwait. Pakistani and Indian exporters for their close proximity are able to send their goods at cheap prices through the sea-route while Bangladesh exporters have to rely on expensive air shipment. Even then the export of fresh vegetables and fruits from the country has got good market as Bangladeshi expatriates are the main buyers who prefer home-grown produces.

According to local exporters, Bangladeshis in many European cities look for fresh Bangladeshi vegetables and fruits. Earlier Britain was the major destination for local fresh vegetables and fruits. For the past few years Bangladesh has been exporting such consignments to Italy and France. According to the Export Promotion Bureau's latest data, fresh produces worth $10 million was exported in two months - July and August of the current fiscal year, nearly 7 per cent less than the export of the corresponding period of last year. The reasons were attributed to lack of modern processing centre and timely supports from the government besides shortage of cargo services.