DHAKA: Bangladesh made its debut at Saudi Arabia’s main agriculture and food exhibition on Wednesday, seeking to diversify an export trade long dominated by garments.
Saudi Arabia is one of the top markets for Bangladeshi exporters in the Middle East, with the trade relationship largely shaped by labor migration and the apparel sector — the South Asian nation’s key revenue generator.
Bangladesh is the only South Asian country participating in AgroFood Jeddah, Saudi Arabia’s leading international exhibition for the agriculture, food, and agri-tech industries. It is taking place from Dec. 3-5, with exhibitors from the Middle East, China and Central Asia, as well as Indonesia, Thailand and Japan.
“This is our first participation of this kind in the Saudi market ... In this first initiative, five of our producers from the food sector are taking part,” Mahmudul Hasan, fair and display division director at Bangladesh’s Export Promotion Bureau, told Arab News.
“We now have a special focus on increasing exports to Saudi Arabia ... Our business community is also increasingly interested in tapping the potential of the Saudi market. In addition to garment products, food and allied food items are our next export priorities, as we have a large number of Bangladeshi migrants there.”
Some 3.6 million Bangladeshis live and work in Saudi Arabia, making it the largest expat group in the Kingdom and the largest Bangladeshi community outside Bangladesh — a captive market for producers back home.
But the current plans for expanding trade ties are not limited to this group.
“We are also trying to penetrate the mainstream Saudi market. To achieve this, we are working with our producers to improve compliance, quality, and competitiveness,” Hasan said. “If we can meet the required standards and enhance our competitiveness, our goods will certainly be able to secure a good share of the Kingdom’s market.”
Syeda Nahida Habiba, commercial counsellor at Bangladesh’s Consulate General in Jeddah, told Arab News that, to tap into the Kingdom’s food market, Bangladeshi authorities were now in talks with Saudi officials to finalize certification with the Saudi Food and Drug Administration and the Saudi Accreditation Center.
When all regulatory requirements are met, Bangladesh will focus on targeting the Saudi-hosted Expo 2030 and FIFA World Cup 2034.
“These two mega events will help us strengthen our export potential in the Kingdom’s markets,” Habiba said.
“With participation in the Jeddah expo, we want to register our presence among the Saudi buyers ... The Saudi market means something more to us: It opens the horizon to the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) and Middle Eastern and North African region. It’s a big opportunity for us.”
