The matter was discussed at a bilateral meeting between Bangladesh's Minister of Commerce, Industry, and Textiles and Jute, Khandker Abdul Muktadir, and Sri Lanka's relevant Minister, Wasantha Samarasinghe, at a side event of the 11th Belt and Road Summit held in Hong Kong on Thursday.
Economy
Prospects of Potato Export to Sri Lanka; Bangladeshi Delegation to Visit to Assess Market
At the meeting, discussions were held on Bangladesh's potato and onion production capacity, potato prices in the Sri Lankan market, and the regional supply system. The Bangladeshi minister said that even after meeting local demand, a significant surplus of potatoes and onions remains in the country. New export markets need to be created for these products.
The Sri Lankan minister expressed interest in importing potatoes and onions from Bangladesh. Subsequently, it was decided to send a trade delegation from Bangladesh, including representatives of potato traders' associations, to assess demand, prices, and commercial potential in the country's market.
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The delegation will hold meetings with relevant parties, including organizations of local traders and food processors in Sri Lanka. If necessary, the possibility of creating warehousing and other infrastructure facilities in the country will also be assessed.
Relevant parties in both countries hope that if this initiative is implemented, new export markets will be created for Bangladesh's agricultural products. At the same time, farmers will have the opportunity to receive fair prices for the potatoes they produce.