Sri Lanka Keen to Import Potato from Bangladesh

Sri Lanka on Friday showed interest in importing potatoes from Bangladesh preferring the barter system in this regard.

The island nation’s Agriculture Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage expressed his interest during a meeting with his Bangladeshi counterpart Muhammad Abdur Razzaque at InterContinental Dhaka, the Ministry of Agriculture said in a press release.

The meeting was held prior to the 36th Session of the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization) Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific that will end on Friday.

Razzaque said Bangladesh will consider the possibility of the barter system in exporting potatoes.

He also put emphasis on increasing bilateral cooperation with the Coconut Research Institute of Sri Lanka.

Bangladesh is hosting the FAO regional conference in Dhaka for the first time with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina attending the inaugural ceremony virtually on Thursday from Abu Dhabi.

On Friday, Razzaque held another meeting with his Philippines counterpart William D Dar at the same venue, read the release.

Both the ministers agreed to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to enhance cooperation in the agriculture sector, including pineapple, banana, tea and paddy cultivation.

Razzaque also held discussion with Laos Deputy Minister for Agriculture Thongphat Vongmany.

Vongmany assured cooperation when the Bangladesh minister expressed interest in importing rice from Laos to deal with any crisis.

Both the nations agreed to sign a MoU soon to increase bilateral cooperation in the agriculture sector.