Razzaque calls for foreign investment in agro sector

Staff Correspondent: Agriculture Minister Dr Abdur Razzaque yesterday urged foreign investors to invest in Bangladesh’s agriculture sector as the congenial atmosphere is prevailing in the country.
“I urge the developed countries, international banks, donor organisations and private entrepreneurs to invest in Bangladeshi agro-sector as the country has a suitable environment for foreign investment,” he said. He, also Awami League (AL) Presidium Member, said these in a session after the inaugural ceremony of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)’s World Food Forum-2022 held in FAO’s headquarters in Rome, Italy, a press release said. Putting emphasis on cold storage and post-harvest management, agricultural processing and marketing, climate-smart agriculture and irrigation and water management in Bangladesh’s investment plan, the minister said the investment of Taka 15,000 crore is required in these sectors in the next 5 years.
“These sectors are very promising and profitable for investment in agriculture in Bangladesh,” he added.
He also sought quick investment in setting up cold storage, post-harvest management, processing and marketing for four products, especially potatoes, onions, mangoes and tomatoes.
FAO Director-General QU Dongyu, Chief Economist of FAO Torero Cullen and representatives of various international banks, donor organizations and private entrepreneurs spoke on the occasion.
Besides, members of the Bangladesh delegation including Bangladesh’s Ambassador to Italy Md Shameem Ahsan, Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture Ruhul Amin Talukder, Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) Director General Dr Md Shahjahan Kabir and Economic Counsellor of Bangladesh Embassy in Rome Manash Mitra were also present.