Seoul Eyes Seafood Synergy: Korea Proposes MoU on Fisheries R&D with Bangladesh
Korea’s Vice‑Minister for Oceans and Fisheries Chol Young‑si has proposed signing a memorandum of understanding on “technological research cooperation” with Bangladesh to accelerate joint work on marine surveillance, tuna harvesting and fish‑processing innovation.
During a high‑level meeting in the port city of Busan, held on the second day of Bangladeshi Fisheries & Livestock Adviser Farida Akhter’s four‑day visit, Chol said Seoul is ready to “identify concrete bilateral projects” that expand cooperation in areas such as:
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satellite‑based illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing control
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deep‑sea tuna‑tracking systems already deployed in Korean waters
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stock‑assessment methodologies and mariculture technologies.
“A formal MoU could frame wide‑ranging technical collaboration between our two nations,” Chol told the delegation.
Dhaka’s Wish‑List
Adviser Farida Akhter outlined Bangladesh’s priorities:
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capacity‑building for deep‑sea tuna operations
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real‑time IUU monitoring in the Bay of Bengal
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scholarships for Bangladeshi marine scientists at Korean universities
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value‑addition and processing‑plant upgrades to boost seafood exports.
“Meeting national protein demand, combating overfishing and tackling climate‑driven challenges require advanced technology,” she said, urging swift government‑to‑government and institute‑to‑institute agreements.
Delegations
The Bangladeshi team included:
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Suraiya Akhtar Jahan, Chair, Bangladesh Fisheries Development Corporation
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Dr. Md. Abdur Rouf, Director‑General, Department of Fisheries
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Dr. Anuradha Bhadra, DG, Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute
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Ambassador Md. Tawfiq Islam Shatil (Seoul).
Wider Engagements
Over two days the delegation also met leaders of:
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Korea Maritime Institute (KMI)
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Fisheries Resources Agency (FIRA)
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Pukyong National University
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Korea Fisheries Association.
Site visits to Busan Fish Processing & Export Centre and Gongsu Fish Village provided first‑hand exposure to Korean cold‑chain and value‑addition models.
Next Steps
Both sides agreed to draft MoU terms in the coming weeks, targeting signature later this year. If finalised, the accord would open avenues for joint research, technology transfer and private‑sector investment in Bangladesh’s blue economy.
