Bangladesh gets approval to export mangoes to China

In July last year, Bangladesh secured this approval for mangoes, while approvals for jackfruit and guava remain pending.

Negotiations for GACC registration of jackfruit and guava have resumed, alongside discussions on exporting other agricultural products such as potatoes and fragrant rice. However, no progress has been reported.

Bangladesh applied to export mangoes and other products to China in 2019. The decision-making process by Chinese authorities is lengthy, further delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic, leading to a six-year wait for mango export approval.

During a press briefing on March 20, Shafiqul Alam, the chief adviser's press secretary, stated that China has shown interest in importing mangoes, jackfruits, and guavas. Chinese Ambassador Yao Wen communicated this interest during a meeting with Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus in Dhaka.

Mamun Mridha, former general secretary of the Bangladesh-China Chamber of Commerce and Industry, mentioned, "The Chinese like the taste of our mangoes and jackfruits. We hope that not only mangoes but also jackfruits will be exported to China in the next season."

A group of Chinese businessmen visited Bangladesh last year to assess the potential for mango and jackfruit imports, inspecting orchards in Rajshahi and providing guidance on packaging standards. A mango testing lab is expected to be installed with funds from China.

Commerce ministry officials noted that Chinese importers found Bangladeshi potato prices high due to production costs and inconsistent trade policies as barriers to importing fragrant rice.

Currently, India and Pakistan dominate the fragrant rice market in China.