FOOD PROCESSING
INDUSTRIES IN BANGLADESH Although
Bangladesh is mainly an agricultural country,
for a long time it was a food-deficit country
till before the year 1997. Since 1997, the
country has produced sufficient quantity of
food in excess demand. The main food processing
industries in Bangladesh, especially the rural-based
food processing industries, are rice husking
mills, flour mills, dairy farms, poultry,
bakery and confectionery, sweet making, cheese
making and handmade pickles industry. These
industries produce their products mainly for
the local markets, while a very few products
are also exported.
On the other hand, the most export-oriented
food processing industries are located in
the urban areas, though they are not very
significant in number. The investment climate
now in Bangladesh is very attractive. The
policy support from the government for foreign
investors in Bangladesh is quite healthy.
Moreover, necessary infrastructural and institutional
support is also available there to a significant
extent. One of the main goals of the present
industrial policy of the Government of Bangladesh
is to attract foreign investors. It is hoped
that Investors will be interested to avail
of these opportunities provided by the Government
of Bangladesh which will also help to promote
the food processing industries along with
various other industries.
FOOD PROCESSING
INDUSTRIES IN BANGLADESH
Pharmaceutical Industry
has grown in Bangladesh in the last two decades
at a considerable rate. Its healthy growth
supports development of auxiliary industries
for producing glass bottles, plastic containers,
aluminum collapsible tubes, aluminum PP caps,
infusion sets, disposable syringes, and corrugated
cartons. Some of these products are also being
exported. Printing and packaging industries
and even the advertising agencies consider
pharmaceutical industry as their major clients
and a key driving force for their growth.
The annual per capita drug consumption in
Bangladesh is one of the lowest in the world.
However, the industry has been a key contributor
to the Bangladesh economy since independence.
With the development of healthcare infrastructure
and increase of health awareness and the purchasing
capacity of people, this industry is expected
to grow at a higher rate in future. Healthy
growth is likely to encourage the pharmaceutical
companies to introduce newer drugs and newer
research products, while at the same time
maintaining a healthy competitiveness in respect
of the most essential drugs.
