DBCCI hosts seminar on Dutch–Bangladesh agri cooperation
The Dutch-Bangla Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DBCCI), in collaboration with LIMRA Exhibitions, has organised a high-level seminar entitled "Bridging the Gap Between High-Tech, Sustainable Dutch Agricultural Systems and Bangladesh's Scale, Climate Vulnerability, and Agro-Processing Bottlenecks".
The event was held on Saturday, 22 November 2025, at Noboratri (Hall–4), International Convention City Bashundhara (ICCB), Dhaka, bringing together agricultural experts, researchers, policymakers, agribusiness leaders, and diplomats from both Bangladesh and the Netherlands.
The seminar was supported by the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC) under the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Embassy of Bangladesh in The Hague, Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU), Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University (SAU), and various agricultural stakeholders from both countries.
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With around ninety participants, including university scholars, development partners, private-sector representatives, DBCCI Board Members, and members of the media, the event served as a platform for strategic dialogue on agricultural innovation, technology transfer, and climate-resilient farming cooperation.
The seminar featured distinguished speakers who shared insights on sustainable agriculture, climate resilience, and innovations in the agri-value chain:
- Professor Dr Md Ashabul Hoque, Genetics and Plant Breeding expert, Department of Agricultural Botany, SAU
- Dr Md Golam Mahboob, Chief Scientific Officer, Natural Resources Management Division, BARC, Ministry of Agriculture
- Professor Dr Mohammad Shamsul Alam Bhuiyan, Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Faculty of Animal Husbandry, BAU
- Sanjib Kumar Saha, Development Consultant and Policy Analyst (Climate and Disaster Risk Management and Food Security)
The seminar began with registration and welcome tea, followed by introductory remarks from the DBCCI Coordinator.
DBCCI President, Md Shakawat Hossain Mamun, delivered the welcome speech, stressing the importance of Dutch–Bangladesh cooperation in advancing agricultural sustainability and innovation.
Key presentations included:
- Transforming Bangladesh's agriculture through innovation and partnership – Dr Md Golam Mahboob (BARC)
- Agriculture for all farmers – Sanjib Kumar Saha
- Climate-smart agriculture: the Netherlands' experience and lessons for Bangladesh – Professor Dr Md Ashabul Hoque (SAU)
A panel discussion on "Joint Pathways for Sustainable Agri-Development: Opportunities and Challenges" brought together experts from BAU, SAU, BARC, private-sector representatives, and development partners. The session was moderated by DBCCI President, Md Shakawat Hossain Mamun.
Participants also engaged in an open discussion, focusing on innovation-led agricultural development, agro-processing gaps, and climate-smart technologies.
The seminar concluded with closing remarks by Saif Uddowlah, Chair of the DBCCI Agro Committee.
