March 26, 2008

 

Bangladesh's Bengal Meat hopes to expand markets abroad

 

Thanks to a rise in processed meat demand, Bengal Meat Processing Industries Limited, the only processed halal meat exporter and domestic supplier in Bangladesh, has almost trebled its export growth in nine months.

 

The Bengal has been exporting 12.5 tonnes of beef to Kuwait per week since September last year, and it has since doubled its weekly beef export to the country to 25 tonnes, company officials told the Daily Star.

 

Next week, exports would double again to 50 tonnes per week, according to Mostafizur Rahman, chief executive officer (CEO) of Bengal Meat.

 

Mutton exports to Dubai also tripled from 3 tonnes a week in May 2007 to the 9 tonnes a week presently.

 

The company now slaughters up to 1,700 cows every month. However, company officials said it could have expanded its exports many times over with government support.

 

There is a huge market in the Middle East and South East Asia but political barriers are in the way, Rahman said.

 

Bangladesh currently has no certification to export to countries other than Kuwait and Dubai. In this regard, the governments wield a huge influence over exports, said Rahman.

 

Still, the company is exploring markets in Malaysia and an inspection team would be sent from the country soon to assess Bengal Meat's safety standards, the company said.

 

 The company now has a 20-tonne meat processing capacity per day, with 250 employees.

 

Besides, foreign markets, the company is also making headway at home.

 

Processed meat is relatively new in Bangladesh, but the company has been able to expand orders from 500 kg a day to the current 3 tonnes a day.

 

The company said cultivating cattle for meat is also new to the country, but some farms are starting to latch on to the idea and have started supplying beef cattle to the company.