For the initial time, Dubai, UAE, received a shipment of pineapple and papaya from Bangladesh through Chattogram Port. The export was conducted by South Breeze Agro, a Dhaka-based exporter, utilizing a reefer container on an experimental basis. The consignment was destined for Mohammed Kamal Uddin Vegetables and Fruits Trading LLC in Dubai, comprising 71.5 kg of pineapple, and 110 kg of papaya, along with other fruits, totaling 5,492.5 kilograms. The pineapples originated from Tangail.
Industry insiders suggest that the successful export of these fruits, which possess natural preservation qualities, may aid in enhancing foreign currency earnings. This event marked the inaugural shipment to the UAE, despite previous exports to other nations. Bangladesh, producing around 200,000 tonnes of pineapple annually, faces losses due to a lack of preservation facilities.
Syed Munerul Hoque from the Plant Quarantine Wing at Chattogram Seaport Station highlighted the export's uniqueness, emphasizing the thorough examination of fruits before clearance. He pointed out the potential for increased exports with improved packing and warehousing. Rashedur Rahman of South Breeze Agro mentioned the competitive suppliers from the Philippines, India, Ecuador, and Africa while expressing hope for positive feedback and future scale-up of exports.
Source: Daily Sun