Staff Correspondent

Adviser to the interim government on the Ministries of Finance and Commerce Dr Salehuddin Ahmed today laid emphasis on using modern and automated technologies to increase productivity of shrimp for earning foreign currencies.

“Bangladesh’s shrimp has huge demand in global market. Production in the country is decreasing due to traditional methods. Modern technology should be used to increase shrimp production. If production is not increased, exports will not rise,” he said.

The adviser came up with observation while exchanging views with the leaders of the Bangladesh Frozen Foods Exporters Association (BFFEA) at the finance ministry conference room in the city, said a press release.

Salehuddin said the government has reshuffled the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) and Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA).

The investment climate in the country is now excellent, he added.

He called upon the business leaders to increase investment in the private sector.

BFFEA President Kazi Belayet Hossain said that the processing factories have not been able to fully utilize the production capacity due to the lack of raw materials for more than a decade.

“The amount of export is decreasing day by day. Due to Covid-19 and Russia-Ukraine war, both the demand and price of shrimp and fish in Bangladesh have decreased. Again, the price in the country's market has increased. For this, exports are on falling trend,” he added.

Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce Md Abdur Rahim Khan and BFFEA Senior Vice President Ashraf Hossain Masud, among others, were present on the occasion.