April 7, 2011

 

Bangladeshi traders bags US$35 million shrimp orders

 

 

Bangladeshi shrimp exporters have received spot orders worth US$35 million in a US international fair, providing an image booster for the nation, officials said.

 

The country participated in the recently concluded International Boston Seafood Show- 2011 held in Washington D.C. with focus on making a deeper inroad into the American market.

 

"We have secured orders in the range of US$30-35 million. We've also got good response from foreign buyers at the fair," said Khan Habibur Rahman, senior executive director of Lockpur Group.

 

"Last year's order was just half. So we've been overwhelmed with the response this year," he added.

 

Shrimp is one of major foreign currency earners for Bangladesh, fetching as much as US$445.18 million in 2009-10 fiscal, statistics showed.

 

Rahman praised the Export Promotion Bureau's initiative to set up a country pavilion at the fair, which helped exporters impress upon overseas buyers. "In the past we used to participate in the fair individually that paid off little," he added.

 

The show was a huge gathering for exhibitors and attendees of the seafood sector where new products, modern technology and equipment were displayed and it is helpful for Bangladeshi shrimp exporters, a senior EPB official said.

 

"Our exporters were able to build up our image through sharing of the development in compliance issue and quality control of Bangladeshi shrimp sector," he added.

 

Exporters are hopeful that the country's overseas sales of frozen food products would reach as high as US$650 million this financial year, smashing the previous records.

 

Bangladesh produces around 50,000 tonnes of shrimp every year, 40% of which find its way to the USA.

 

Shrimp exports grew 59% to US$431.27 million during July-February of 2010-11 fiscal year.