FAO pledges support for Bangladesh's deep-sea fishing and fruit exports

FAO Director-General Dr Qu Dongyu has assured continued support to Bangladesh in developing its deep-sea fishing industry and boosting agricultural exports, particularly in fruits.

The commitment came during a bilateral meeting with Bangladesh Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus on the sidelines of the World Food Forum and the FAO's 80th anniversary celebrations, held at the FAO headquarters in Rome yesterday (13 October).

Dr Qu warmly welcomed CA Yunus, who attended the event to deliver a keynote address at the Forum's flagship session, and praised his lifelong contributions to agricultural and rural development in Bangladesh.

Describing Bangladesh as a "high-performing country," the FAO chief reaffirmed the organisation's commitment to providing technical assistance, innovation, and promoting South-South and Triangular Cooperation.

"We will continue to support you," Dr Qu said.

CA Yunus expressed gratitude for the FAO's longstanding support and sought assistance in three emerging areas - developing deep-sea fisheries and fish processing expertise, scaling up fruit exports through improved preservation and processing, and strengthening post-harvest management, including affordable and portable cold storage solutions.

"We have a whole ocean, but we only fish in shallow waters. We've never fully utilised our maritime resources. Foreign trawlers catch fish in our waters while we remain under-equipped," CA Yunus said.

In response, Dr Qu suggested that Bangladesh consider inviting Chinese experts to help assess its deep-sea fish stocks and design a sustainable development strategy.

Highlighting Bangladesh's potential as a major fruit exporter, CA Yunus noted that China has already expressed interest in importing large quantities of mangoes, jackfruit, and guavas from the country. 

He emphasised the need to develop mobile cold storage systems to reduce post-harvest losses, especially for smallholder farmers.

Dr Qu cited China's experience in the 1980s, when fruit exports to Japan significantly boosted its agricultural sector, stressing the importance of developing high-value cash crop fruits for Bangladesh's economy.

Looking ahead, the FAO Director-General mentioned that 2026 will mark the 20th anniversary of Professor Yunus receiving the Nobel Peace Prize - the first awarded for combating poverty and empowering the poor.

"We will celebrate," he said, commending Professor Yunus's leadership during his tenure as head of Bangladesh's Interim Government.

Also present at the meeting were Food Adviser Ali Imam Majumder, Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhter, SDG Coordinator Lamiya Morshed, and Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam.