Hortex Foundation organised the seminar on 'Market Access/Entry and Environmental Requirements for Horticultural Export', says a press release.

Hortex involves in development, promotion and marketing of exportable horticulture produces, particularly high-value, non-traditional crops to high-price non-conventional international market.

Kazi Abul Kashem, secretary of agriculture ministry and chairman of Hortex Foundation, was the chief guest while Syed Naquib Muslim, additional secretary of the ministry, and Md Akmal Hossain, managing director of Hortex, among others, were present.

Abul Kashem said the world market for agricultural products is becoming more and more competitive and the only way to survive is to offer quality produces to the buyers, following their preferences and fulfilling all market access/ entry requirements and environmental conditions.

Hortex has already made a good beginning in this direction and demonstrated successfully how Bangladeshi farm products could penetrate in the mainstream export market, he mentioned.

It is now the time to follow suit and make concerted efforts by all the stakeholders to create awareness and promote market-oriented production and value-chain activities, the secretary felt.

He said the Ministry of Agriculture is aware of the impending situation and ready to do whatever is needed to face the challenge, in consultation and cooperation with other ministries and government agencies concerned.

Syed Naquib Muslim emphasised the need for inducing private sector to help it become more active and committed in quality production of agricultural products for both export and domestic markets.

Export of fruits and vegetables from Bangladesh recorded an all time high of US$ 46.41 million in the fiscal year 2004-05, registering an 88 per cent growth over the preceding fiscal, according to the release.