Integrate Modern Technology in Agro-Processing

Integrating artificial intelligence, machine vision, robotics, and smart factory technologies is essential to expanding Bangladesh's share in the global agro-processing market.

The 11th edition of the three-day 'BAPA Foodpro International Expo' concluded at the International Convention City Bashundhara (ICCB) in Dhaka on Saturday, September 12. Jointly organized by the Bangladesh Agro-Processors' Association (BAPA) and Rainbow Exhibition and Event Management Services Limited, the exhibition brought together over 200 international brands from 27 countries, displaying food processing, packaging, cold-chain solutions, and automated engineering.

CPD Research Fellow Abu Saleh Md. Shamim Alam Shibly presented the keynote during the technical session titled 'Export of Agro-Processing: Challenges and Way Forward'. BAPA President Mahbub Anam and Senior Vice President Uzma Chowdhury were present. Moderated by BAPA General Secretary Choyon Muhammad Shoaib Hasan, the panel featured The Business Standard Deputy Editor Sazzadur Rahman, PRAN-RFL Group Executive Director Mizanur Rahman, and Square Food & Beverage CEO Parvez Saiful Islam.

The paper showed the global processed agriculture market will expand from 200 billion dollars to 236 billion dollars by 2028. Bangladesh hosts around 1,000 processing facilities, with 700 involved in exports. However, out of every 100 dollars in global trade, Vietnam holds 3.89 dollars while Bangladesh holds only 0.05 dollars. Annual sector exports fell from 1.28 billion dollars in 2020-21 to under 1 billion in 2024-25. Shipments remain over-concentrated in snacks and biscuits heading to ethnic Gulf markets. Panelists urged good agricultural practices, tariff waivers on industrial machinery, and advanced testing setups.

Square Food & Beverage CEO Parvez Saiful Islam said, "Policy inconsistency reversed our progress right after touching the one-billion-dollar benchmark. Halting aromatic rice exports abruptly severed established ties with verified international buyers." He added that inadequate and dysfunctional irradiation centers severely stall bulk spice consignments, locking the country out of the multi-trillion-dollar global halal supply network.

PRAN-RFL Group Corporate Finance Director Uzma Chowdhury stated, "Enterprises lack inter-agency regulatory support during operational rollouts. Farmers are losing initiative instead of scaling up advanced production." She noted that failure to secure export clearances for rice despite international demand underlines a major planning deficit.

The Business Standard Deputy Editor Sazzadur Rahman stated that shifting consumer diets require dynamic diversification. He remarked, "Securing dozens of trade licenses creates prolonged operational bottlenecks, taking upwards of two years for industrial approvals."

PRAN-RFL Group Executive Director Mizanur Rahman said, "Over 90 percent of our agro-export revenues rely on non-resident ethnic groceries. Inadequate domestic laboratory facilities force enterprises to conduct tests overseas, regularly missing global retailer lead times." BAPA leaders stressed that modern packaging engineering and testing facilities remain foundational to unlocking global supply chains.
//DBTech/BPJO/SE/EIC//