He also said Bangladesh has become a food-sufficient country despite many challenges and other Islamic nations can learn from the Muslim-majority country in ensuring food security for their citizens.
The chief of the country’s apex trade body made the statement when Yerland Baidaulet, Director General of the Islamic Organization for Food Security (IOFS) at the Federation Bhaban in the capital. The IOFS is headquartered in Kazakhstan.
Baidaulet is currently visiting Bangladesh and meeting officials and business leaders to discuss possible cooperation in the food and agriculture sectors between Bangladesh and other IOFS members.
During the meeting, Fahim stressed the need for technology transfer and expansion of other sectors, including pharmaceuticals, consumer products and animal health, among the IOFS members.
He said the FBCCI was working for more understanding of Halal certification of food and other products as Halal ecosystem has the huge business potentials in the international Halal market.
Fahim also said Bangladesh was keen to work more on how the country can build partnership with Kazakhstan as the central Asian nation has a huge potential in agricultural production including rice.
Both of them agreed that Bangladesh and Kazakhstan should exchange more delegates for sharing knowledge.
They said the main areas through which Bangladesh could contribute to food security in all of Ummah are rice cultivation.
They also discussed the possibility of establishing an Islamic Food Processing Institution.
Baidaulet appreciated the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in ensuring food security in Bangladesh and said Bangladesh has good resources and expertise in the field of food security.He said Bangladesh may share knowledge and facilitate capacity building among other IOFS member states that too cultivate rice.
“Bangladesh can teach us how to deal with food security,” Baidaulet told the meeting.
The food security system in Bangladesh is governed by several institutions that reflect the multidimensional nature of food security, including disciplines such as agriculture, rural development, women's and children's affairs, health, finance, commerce and disaster management.
The IOFS recognises Bangladesh’s effort in successful launching of the National Food Policy, National Food Policy Plan of Action, Bangladesh Country Investment Plan under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
FBCCI Vice-presidents Hasina Newaaz, Rezaul Karim Reznu, Mir Nizam Uddin Ahmed, Nizamuddin Rajesh and director Sujib Ranjan Dash also attended the meeting.