DHAKA, Feb 3, 2022 (BSS) - The Department of Fisheries today signed a
Memorandum of Understanding with the United States Department of Agriculture
funded Bangladesh Trade Facilitation Project to boost trading of fish and
fisheries products.   

   The MoU aims at outlining a collaborative effort to streamline processes,
share trade information about opportunities and requirements for export
markets, and to enhance the ability to use scientific methods to ensure food
safety and manage risk during importation of goods for this important,
export-earning industry.   

   Kh Mahbubul Haque, Director General, Department of Fisheries, and Michael
J Parr, Country Director Land O'Lakes Venture37 and Project Director,
Bangladesh Trade Facilitation Project, signed the MoU on behalf of their
respective organizations at a ceremony held at the Department of Fisheries'
building in the capital, said a press release.   

   Parr, representing the USDA program, expressed his hope that the
collective efforts in implementing the MoU activities will expand
opportunities for the fisheries industry of Bangladesh and contribute to its
continuous economic growth.   

   Mahbubul Haque thanked USDA for responding to the Government of
Bangladesh's request to assist government agencies and private sector in
addressing challenges to trade facilitation.    

   He stated that the next five years are crucial for Bangladesh as the
country is graduating from Least Developed Country (LDC) status in 2026 and
hoped that the collaboration between the Department of Fisheries and the
Bangladesh Trade Facilitation Project will contribute towards enabling
Bangladesh to successfully overcome the challenges of graduation.   

   The Department of Fisheries is responsible for regulating and promoting
the production and national and international trade of fish and fish products
as well fish and aquaculture feed.    

   Fisheries officials and scientists inspect import and export consignments,
sample and test products, and monitor fish production and storage facilities
to provide necessary certifications and licenses.   

   The Bangladesh Trade Facilitation project is a USDA-funded, demand-driven
technical assistance project which is partnering with the Government of
Bangladesh in implementing the Category-C measures of the World Trade
Organization's Trade Facilitation Agreement, which cover the trade of
agricultural products, including fisheries.    

   The project aims to expand regional and international trade in
agricultural goods by addressing systemic constraints to agricultural trade,
simplifying and automating trade procedures, harmonizing processes, improving
the capacity of government agencies, laboratories, and developing the cold
chain system by fostering private and public investment in cold storage
facilities and temperature-controlled logistics.