NAC to represent Bangladesh at China agrochemical exhibition

Bangladesh is set to showcase locally produced agrochemical products in the global market for the first time at the 26th China International Agrochemical and Crop Protection Exhibition, scheduled to be held in Shanghai from 17 to 19 March.

National Agricare Export-Import Company will represent Bangladesh at the exhibition, marking the country's first participation as a producer and exhibitor of agrochemical products rather than as a buyer, according to organisers.

The fair, organised by the Chemical Industry Sub-Council of China, will begin at 9am on 17 March and end at 3pm on 19 March at the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai. Organisers said around 30,000 visitors from 50 countries are expected to attend. Bangladeshi-made agricultural products will be displayed at stall number 72F169 of National Agricare Export-Import Company.

The exhibition is regarded as one of the world's largest platforms for agrochemical and crop protection products, where entrepreneurs and industry players gather to explore new products, technologies and sustainable solutions. Although Bangladeshi companies have previously attended the fair to purchase products, this will be the first time that a local company will participate to promote agrochemical products manufactured in Bangladesh in the international market.

The Bangladesh Agrochemical Manufacturers Association has long been urging the government to provide policy support to the sector. Industry stakeholders say appropriate policy backing could help reduce import dependence and accelerate the development of the local agrochemical industry. They also noted that the government has already started working on the sector.

KSM Mostafizur Rahman, president of the Bangladesh Agrochemical Manufacturers Association and managing director of National Agricare Export-Import Company, said that with policy support from the government, the country's agrochemical industry could, like the pharmaceutical sector, become export-oriented within a maximum of five years and meet nearly all domestic demand through local production.

He said low-cost funding support would be needed for the import of technology and machinery. Such support, he added, would help protect farmers from the high prices of imported products sold by multinational companies, while enabling them to access quality local products at lower prices and improve agricultural output.

Mostafizur Rahman also said Bangladesh has a sufficient number of agricultural scientists, chemists and engineers capable of producing world-class agrochemical products, similar to the standards achieved by the pharmaceutical industry. He said the country has the capacity not only to meet domestic demand but also to export in significant volumes. Bangladesh's relatively low labour cost compared with other South Asian countries also gives the sector strong potential in the competitive global market, he added.

Mohammad Hasan Arif, vice-chairman and chief executive officer of the Export Promotion Bureau, said it was a matter of pride that a Bangladeshi company would represent the country for the first time at one of the world's largest agrochemical fairs with products made in Bangladesh.

He said the initiative could bring export earnings to the country and help reduce import dependence. He added that if more companies followed National Agricare Export-Import Company's example, it would be positive for the country. Bangladesh is now heavily dependent on ready-made garments for export earnings, he said, and agrochemical exports could add a new dimension to export diversification.

He further said the Export Promotion Bureau would monitor the outcome of the fair. If participation grows in future and more companies show interest, the bureau may include the exhibition in its fair calendar and provide necessary support, which would help reduce costs for participating companies.