Bangladesh is expected to export around 2 lakh tonnes of potatoes to Russia next year, Agriculture Minister Dr Md Abdur Razzaque has said.
A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between the two countries in this regard at the capital's Hotel Intercontinental on Tuesday.
Abdullah Sajjad, chairman of Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation and Abdus Sattar Mia, chairman of National Group, signed the agreement on behalf of the respective countries.
Agriculture Minister Dr Md Abdur Razzak, Agriculture Secretary Wahida Akhter, Executive Chairman of BARC Sheikh Md Bakhtiar, Russian Ambassador to Bangladesh Alexander Mantitsky, member director of BADC Mostafizur Rahman were also present at the signing ceremony.
The minister said currently more than one crore tonnes of potatoes are being produced in Bangladesh annually.
"Our annual demand is 80 lakh tonnes, the remaining 20 lakh tonnes can be exported, and the government is working on this," he added.
Earlier in 2014, Russia banned Bangladesh's potatoes owing to the detection of brown rot disease in potatoes.
In March 2022, Russia lifted its restrictions and resumed the import of potatoes from the entire territory of Bangladesh as the government has taken various measures to free the vegetable from brown rot disease and make it safe.
Bangladesh exported 20,000 tons of potatoes to Russia for the last time in 2015.