Bangladesh to tap halal market

Subsidy to kick-start country’s first venture into meat exports.

bangladesh cow meat halal
Bangladesh has one of the world's biggest livestock populations [EPA]

“Dubai officials have visited the plant and they were impressed with our standards. We expect the clearance within one or two weeks.”

 

Bangladesh has one of the world’s biggest livestock populations with goat and cattle the mainstays, according to Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO).

 

However, the country has never exported meat and the current plan comes only after the government offered a 20 per cent export subsidy, Chowdhury said.

 

“Initially, we will export $50,000 worth of meat every day. We are confident it will grow by leaps and bounds once we start.”

 

Exports boost

 

Meat certified as halal means that the animal was slaughtered according to traditions set forth by the Prophet Muhammad.

 

Bangladesh has aimed to boost exports to earn foreign currency and provide jobs for its 144 million-strong population, 40 per cent of whom live on less than a dollar a day.

 

Most of its foreign currency earnings now come from its booming textile exports and from workers abroad sending earnings home.

Source: News Agencies