DHAKA, May 1, 2020 (BSS) – Bangladesh has sent different agri products to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as a gift as part of its endeavor in exploring overseas markets for exporting the county’s surplus food especially seasonal fruits, fresh vegetables and meat.
The gift, containing fine quality of rice named Banglamati developed by Bangladeshi scientists, seasonal fruits and fresh vegetables, was sent to the UAE by a cargo flight of Etihad Airlines on Thursday, a foreign ministry press release said here today.
The gifts were provided by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to the UAE’s President, the Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, the Foreign Minister, the Minister of Human Resources and the Minister of State for Food Security as a gesture of good will and fraternity between the two countries.
Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) provided Banglamati rice while Agriculture ministry arranged fresh vegetables for the gift, said the release.
Earlier, the chairman of the UAE Investment Authority Sheikh Hamadbin Zayed Al Nahyan expressed his willingness to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to import rice from Bangladesh during his courtesy call on the Bangladesh Premier while her visit to Abu Dhabi in January 2020.
Besides, foreign minister Dr A K Abdul Momen mentioned Bangladesh’s remarkable progress in the agriculture sector with surplus food production during his meeting with Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the UAE in January 2020.
Apart from the gift, around 40 tons of fresh vegetables and meat procured by UAE authority from Bangladesh were sent by the same cargo flight.
The foreign ministry believes that this might be a good start of exporting quality rice, fruits, vegetables and meat to the UAE as Bangladesh is trying to explore overseas markets for exporting the country’s surplus agro-products.