Bangladesh approves more companies for shrimp exports

Another 12 companies have received shrimp export certificates from Bangladesh's authorities, which will further boost the shrimp export industry.

The 12 companies are allowed to export about 407,196 tonnes of freshwater shrimps worth BDT423 million (US$6.1 million) to European countries, said officials.

This brings hope to the shrimp industry after it was dealt one heavy blow after another in the forms of cyclone Aila, global recession and the government's self-imposed temporary ban, said Bangladesh Frozen Foods Exporters Association (BFFEA) president Musa Miah.

He said around BDT45 billion (US$651.2 million) of freshwater shrimp could be exported to different destinations including the EU if the government and weather conditions favour the industry.

The spate of misfortunes had forced exporters to shut down some factories, and the government had not received any help, not even a single cent from the BDT50 billion (US$722.5 million) stimulus package, said Miah.

The industry lost BDT1 billion (US$14.5 million) over the self-imposed ban caused by EU complaints of nitrofuran contamination, he said.