Dhaka Bureau: Fisheries and Livestock Minister Sh. M. Rezaul Karim said that the organization of the International Aquaculture and Sea Food Show in Bangladesh will start a new chapter in the country’s fisheries sector.
The minister made this comment while addressing the chief guest at the information workshop and press meet organized on the occasion of the Bangladesh International Aquaculture and Seafood Show 2023 at the Hotel Intercontinental in the capital on Saturday (June 10).
At this time, the minister said, the Bangladesh International Aquaculture and Sea Food Show 2023 is being organized from October 19 to 21. This will be one of the largest-scale events related to the country’s fisheries sector. This event will be a unique example in Bangladesh under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina. This arrangement will help Bangladesh earn foreign exchange, meet the needs of the country, and open a new horizon for foreign investment in the country. Fish importers, traders, and investors from Germany, Spain, and other countries are expected to come here. We have to present the development picture of our fisheries sector to them. At the field level, they should highlight the scope of their work. In this arrangement, those directly and indirectly involved with the fisheries sector should work together. The government will provide all necessary support for this arrangement.
The minister also said that Bangladesh is a country with immense potential in terms of natural resources. Bangabandhu talked about the development of such a beautiful and natural resource-rich Bangladesh during the post-independence era, along with other resources. At that time, he said fish would be the second major foreign exchange-earning resource. Today, reality has reached there. Fishing is our huge potential sector ahead. For this sector to move forward, the public and private sectors must work together.
He added that under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, with her best diplomatic efforts, we have been able to conquer vast sea borders. As a result, our water resources area has expanded. We have a sea border almost the same size as Bangladesh. This has further expanded the scope of our fisheries sector, which has immense potential. This is where we have to work.
He also said that Bangladesh is an excellent place to work together with various institutions from all over the world. There are very few countries in the world that are so friendly to foreign investment. Workers are easily available here; there are natural resources, raw materials, and proper management by the government. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has created special economic zones in the country where foreign investors are able to invest.
Mentioning that the fisheries sector has great potential for foreign investment, he further said that Bangladesh should be highlighted to the world as a friendly place for foreign investment. Many foreigners are investing in our country, and many are showing interest. His fields of interest include various industries. We need to bring our fisheries sector into a multi-use space. Traditional fish production and consumption, as well as multi-purpose use of fish products, should be progressed. We have here the raw material, fish, for multipurpose use. The production process here is simple; there is government support for production, and the government is giving the opportunity to process the produced fish. Investors are exempt from various taxes, including tax at source and tax on imported machinery. In this way, the government is welcoming foreign investment with maximum opportunities. These facilities need to be communicated to foreigners.
Highlighting the development of the country’s fisheries sector, the minister said that at present, about 60 percent of animal meat is supplied by fish. Against the daily demand of 60 grams per capita, we are taking 67.8 grams of fish. This has been possible due to state planning, patronage, and private entrepreneurs coming forward. According to the report of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Bangladesh is one of the three countries that have shown success in fish production during the Corona period. Bangladesh is the 3rd in the production of fish in open inland water bodies, the 1st in the production of hilsa, and the 5th in the production of fish in closed water bodies. Fish production in the fiscal year 2008-09 was 27.1 lakh metric tons, which increased to 47.59 lakh metric tons in the 2021–22 fiscal year. At the same time, the production of hilsa increased from 2 lakh 99 thousand metric tons to 5 lakh 67 thousand metric tons. In this way, incredible and revolutionary changes have come to the fisheries sector. Hilsa of Bangladesh in 2017 and Bagda shrimp of Bangladesh in 2022 got GI certificates. Even during the Corona crisis, government incentives have been given to the fisheries sector so that the victims in this sector can turn around. As a result, Bangladesh has been able to successfully show its fish production capacity compared to many other big countries in the world.
Mentioning that at one time the export of fish was endangered due to some dishonest people, the minister added that an international quality control laboratory has been set up in the country under the direction of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to export safe and quality fish to the world market. In case of fish export, compliance is being provided as per the country’s requirements. As a result, the quality of fish in Bangladesh is now being recognized as excellent compared to other countries in the world. Because of that, the demand of Bangladeshi fish in the world market is gradually increasing.
