China keen to import Bangladeshi mangoes

China expressed its keenness to import mango from Bangladesh this year, said Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen.

The Chinese Ambassador came up with the information while talking to the Agriculture Minister Dr Md. Abdus Shahid at the Secretariat on Monday.

An expert delegation from China will likely visit the country, specifically the mango orchards and production facilities, in the first week of June.

Bangladesh will approve the export of mangoes based on the report of the Chinese delegation.

Additional secretary to the Agriculture Ministry Moloy Chowdhury, joint secretary Md Mahmudur Rahman were present there.

Expecting Chinese investment in the agriculture sector, the minister said Bangladesh needs the modern and technical assistance to modernise and mechanise agriculture sector, especially, the country‍‍`s farmers need China‍‍`s cooperation so that the farmers can get modern agricultural machinery at low price as we can purchase machines from China at a relatively low price.”

Earlier, the Agriculture Minister met Ambassador of the Netherlands in Bangladesh Irma van Dueren.

The meeting stressed the need for strengthening mutual cooperation in the agriculture sector and working together on strengthening agricultural research and technology exchange.

The meeting also discussed the construction and launch of onion storage in Mymensingh’s Bhaluka at the initiative of the Netherlands government.

Onions can be stored throughout the year in this storage, which will be inaugurated officially on May 2.

Noting that onion is an important crop of Bangladesh, the minister said “To become self-sufficient in onion, we are emphasizing on increasing onion production and preservation.”

The initiative of the Netherlands government will play a very helpful role in this regard.