Enhancing quality food processing in poultry sector stressed to boost export
Business Report :
Experts at a workshop stressed on giving special focus on enhancing quality food processing in the country’s poultry sector in order to boost export in this sector.
According to the latest data from the Industrial Development Leasing Company of Bangladesh Limited (IDLC-Bangladesh), quality food processing supports more than 20 per cent of the country’s workforce and plays a pivotal role in driving economic growth. As such, expanding food processing capacity not only reduces food waste but also opens up significant opportunities for boosting exports.
In 2022, Bangladesh exported halal meat valued at $0.64 million to countries including the UAE, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, and the United States. With this in mind, enhancing food processing standards could significantly increase export opportunities to these markets.
However, entrepreneurs in the poultry processing sector face several challenges. These include: increasing the number of formal slaughter houses, investing in sustainable infrastructure, prioritizing food safety, adopting environmentally friendly practices, introducing advanced technologies, developing temperature-sensitive cold chain infrastructure to prevent spoilage, and promoting certification based on international quality standards.
These insights were shared during a workshop titled ‘Poultry Industry Processing’ held at a hotel at Gulshan in the capital recently.
The event was jointly organised by the Netherlands Embassy in Bangladesh, Larive International, a Netherlands-based business consultancy firm, Lightcastle Partners, an international business consultancy firm, and the Bangladesh Poultry Industries Central Council (BPICC).
The workshop aimed at fostering networking among industry stakeholders and discussing key recommendations for poultry industry entrepreneurs.
The event highlighted the growing demand for officially processed poultry products in Bangladesh. In just six years, daily chicken meat consumption has surged from 17.3 grams per person in 2016 to 26.2 grams in 2022. With commercial poultry farm growth at about 15 per cent annually, Bangladesh now produces 23.37 billion eggs and 1.46 million tons of poultry meat each year.
As the market rapidly expands, significant infrastructure development in the poultry processing industry is crucial for sustained growth.
Ainan Tajrian, Business Consultant at LightCastle Partners, moderated the event, while Mostafa Kamal, Secretary of BPICC, delivered the opening speech.