She said this while speaking as chief guest at the opening ceremony of the 11th BAPA FoodPro International Expo-2026 at the International Convention City Bashundhara in the capital on Thursday. Later, she visited various stalls at the expo.

The Food Minister said the use of modern technology must be increased in the production, processing and preservation of safe and quality food. Ensuring quality control at every stage from food production to marketing is one of the government's top priorities.

She said by modernizing the food processing industry and making it internationally standardized, there are opportunities to ensure fair prices for agricultural products, reduce waste, create employment, and increase exports. She called on entrepreneurs to utilize modern technology and innovation.

More than two hundred brands from 37 countries participated in this year's expo, jointly organized by BAPA and Rainbow Exhibition and Event Management Services Limited. Italian Ambassador Antonio Alessandro, Chairman of the Bangladesh Food Safety Authority Md. Shafiqul Islam, FBCCI Administrator Md. Hafizur Rahman, and other concerned persons were present at the event.