FAO Director-General Pledges Support for Bangladesh’s Deep-Sea Fishing and Fruit Exports

Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Director-General Dr Qu Dongyu has reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to supporting Bangladesh in developing its deep-sea fishing industry and boosting agricultural exports, particularly in fruits.

The assurance came during a meeting between Dr Qu and Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on the sidelines of the World Food Forum and the FAO’s 80th Anniversary celebrations at the FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy, on Monday, according to the Chief Adviser’s press wing.

Dr Qu warmly welcomed Professor Yunus, who visited the FAO headquarters to deliver a keynote address at the Forum’s flagship event. He praised Professor Yunus for his lifelong contributions to agricultural and rural development in Bangladesh, describing the country as a “high-performing nation.”

Reaffirming FAO’s ongoing collaboration through technical assistance, innovation, and South–South and Triangular Cooperation, Dr Qu said, “We will continue to support you.”

Professor Yunus expressed gratitude for the FAO’s long-standing cooperation and sought its support in three key areas: expanding deep-sea fisheries and fish processing capacity, increasing fruit exports through improved preservation and processing, and enhancing post-harvest management, including affordable portable cold storage solutions.

“We have a whole ocean, but we only fish in shallow waters. We’ve never fully utilized our maritime resources. Foreign trawlers catch fish in our waters while we remain under-equipped,” Professor Yunus said.

In response, Dr Qu proposed that Bangladesh invite Chinese experts to assess its deep-sea fish stocks and formulate a sustainable development strategy.

Professor Yunus also highlighted Bangladesh’s growing potential as a major fruit exporter, noting China’s interest in importing large quantities of mangoes, jackfruit, and guavas. He emphasized the urgent need for mobile cold storage systems to curb post-harvest losses, especially for smallholder farmers.

Dr Qu stressed the importance of developing high-value fruit crops and cited China’s success in the 1980s, when fruit exports to Japan significantly strengthened its agricultural economy.

Looking ahead, Dr Qu noted that 2026 would mark the 20th anniversary of Professor Yunus receiving the Nobel Peace Prize—the first awarded for efforts to fight poverty and empower the poor.

“We will celebrate,” he said, commending Professor Yunus’s leadership as head of Bangladesh’s interim government.

Food Adviser Ali Imam Majumder, Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhter, SDG Coordinator Lamiya Morshed, and Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam also attended the meeting.