Fisheries and Livestock Minister Md Abdur Rahman has set an ambitious export target of Tk15,000 crore for the fisheries sector.
Emphasising the need for innovative strategies, the minister highlighted the importance of adopting new approaches to propel Bangladesh's fisheries sector towards achieving this bold target.
He made the remarks at a workshop titled “Exploring challenges and opportunities in Bangladesh’s fish processing sector in the context of LDC graduation” on Sunday.
Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) Executive Chairman and Senior Secretary Lokman Hossain Mia chaired the event held at BIDA Multipurpose Hall in the capital.
Executive Director of Research and Policy Integration for Development (RAPID) and Professor at the University of Dhaka Dr M Abu Eusuf presented the keynote article, addressing critical issues facing the fish processing industry.
Secretary of Fisheries and Livestock Md Selim Uddin, President of the Bangladesh Frozen Foods Exporters Association (BFFEA) Kazi Belayet Hossain, and Director-General of the Department of Fisheries Syed Md Alamgir also spoke and shared their insights.
Fisheries and Livestock Minister Md Abdur Rahman underscored the fisheries sector’s pivotal role in national development, citing its contribution to providing safe animal meat, generating employment, and earning foreign exchanges.
He also highlighted the sector’s significant employment generation, with over 195 lakh individuals, including 14 lakh women, directly or indirectly involved in its activities.
Furthermore, the minister emphasised the government's commitment to conserving marine fisheries resources and ensuring sustainable production to boost the blue economy.
He instructed officials to formulate specific proposals in line with the development initiatives.
In his address, BIDA’s Executive Chairman Lokman Hossain Mia lauded the visionary leadership of the Prime Minister, noting Bangladesh's remarkable socio-economic and infrastructural progress over the last 15 years.
He urged stakeholders to invest in various sectors, particularly the fisheries industry, to drive further growth and development.
BIDA executive chairman emphasised the importance of taking proper investment measures to enhance fish production and exports, aligning with Bangladesh’s aspirations for continued progress and prosperity.
The workshop provided a platform for stakeholders to deliberate on challenges and explore opportunities for the fisheries sector, signaling the government’s commitment to fostering growth and sustainability in the industry.