Enhance poultry feed processing standards to boost export: Experts

Enhancing food processing standards in Bangladesh's poultry sector could significantly increase export opportunities to international markets, said experts at a workshop held in the capital on 9 April.

In 2022, Bangladesh exported halal meat worth $0.64 million to countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, and the United States. Expanding food processing capacity will open up significant opportunities for boosting exports, speakers noted.

The workshop, titled 'Poultry Industry Processing,' brought together stakeholders from various sectors including business consultancies, industry leaders, and development agencies. 

Organised jointly by the Netherlands Embassy in Bangladesh, Larive International, LightCastle Partners, and the Bangladesh Poultry Industries Central Council (BPICC), the event took place at a hotel in Gulshan.

The speakers underscored four major areas for poultry industry entrepreneurs to prioritise: increasing infrastructure investment, prioritising food safety, adopting environmentally friendly practices, and integrating modern technologies into processing systems.

The workshop aimed at fostering networking among industry stakeholders and discussing key recommendations for poultry industry entrepreneurs. 

The event also 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% 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, speakers said.

Over 30 officials and representatives of different companies such as Paragon, Aftab, Bengal Meat, AG Food, Pran, Provita and ACI Godrej Agrovet, among others, participated in the workshop.

Ainan Tajrian, Business Consultant at LightCastle Partners, moderated the event, while Mostafa Kamal, Secretary of BPICC, delivered the opening speech.

Other notable guests attending the workshop included  Md Sazzad Hossain, adviser, communication and media at BPICC, and Naziba Ali, business analyst of LightCastle Partners.

Subramani Horiharan, account manager at Marel, a leading multinational food processing company, delivered a presentation on this topic at the workshop.

The event concluded with a closing address by Amber Van Sponsen, Emerging Market Advisor of Larive International.