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Turkey keen to import mango, pineapple from BD


Published : 29 Sep 2020 09:24 PM | Updated : 30 Sep 2020 09:03 AM

Turkish Ambassador to Bangladesh Mustafa Osman Turan on Tuesday met with Agriculture Minister Dr. Muhammad Abdur Razzaque at his office in the Bangladesh Secretariat. During the meeting, bilateral relations and cooperation in agriculture, livestock, agricultural machinery and food processing of the two countries were discussed.

The Agriculture Minister said the unprecedented success in agriculture has come as a result of various initiatives and incentives in the agriculture sector under the leadership of the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Bangladesh has become self-sufficient in granular food. Now the main goal is to commercialize and modernize agriculture. In this regards the government of Bangladesh is emphasizing on the processing and marketing of agricultural products. As Bangladesh lags behind in the processing of agricultural products, there are many opportunities for the two countries to work together. At the same time, the Minister of Agriculture sought Turkey's cooperation in agro-processing and agricultural mechanization.

The Agriculture Minister said ‘Bangladesh has deep ties with Turkey. I firmly believe that our relationship will remain intact. In the future, cooperation in all fields including economic, social and cultural will increase further.’

Praising Bangladesh's success in the agriculture sector, Turkish Ambassador Mostafa Usman Turan said that the importance of agriculture in the Turkish economy is immense. Turkey is self-sufficient in food and Turkey's food processing industry is very strong. He also assured cooperation in agriculture including food processing. He added that the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) would take initiatives to assist Bangladesh in food processing. In addition, initiatives will be taken to involve Turkish private sector businessmen and entrepreneurs in identifying and cooperating in the areas of mutual cooperation between the two countries.

At that time, the Turkish ambassador expressed interest to import various food items including mango and pineapple from Bangladesh.

A memorandum of understanding was signed between Bangladesh and Turkey in 2012 on scientific and technological cooperation in agriculture. During the meeting, the two sides reiterated their interest in strengthening mutual cooperation in the fields of agricultural science and technology, biotechnology, agro-food processing and packaging, agricultural machinery, seed production, innovation and research of various varieties resistant to climate change.