B Mirror Report: Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir has called for environmentally friendly production, workers’ rights protection and digital traceability to strengthen Bangladesh’s position in the global shrimp market.

Speaking at a high-level dialogue on the shrimp sector in Dhaka on Thursday, he said Bangladesh lagged behind India in shrimp exports despite having a larger area of shrimp farms. Improving productivity, product quality and responsible business practices is essential to narrow the gap.

Bangladesh’s frozen fish and shrimp exports rose 19% to around $300 million last year, the minister said, adding that the sector had significant potential for further growth. India exported more than $5 billion worth of shrimp in fiscal 2024-25, despite having around 42% less shrimp farming land than Bangladesh.

Muktadir said international buyers increasingly consider not only product quality but also workers’ conditions and environmental standards. He stressed the need for an integrated digital traceability system to verify products from production to export and reduce reliance on paper-based records.

The commerce ministry has established a Responsible Business Conduct Cell and is working on a national policy on responsible business practices, including workers’ rights, and a traceability strategy, he said.

The European Union is Bangladesh’s largest market for shrimp. The government is committed to reforms and deeper bilateral trade relations, including efforts towards free trade agreements, the minister added.

Highlighting the industry’s importance to coastal livelihoods, he said protecting the rights and welfare of farmers, depot workers, processing plant employees and exporters remained a priority.

The dialogue was jointly organised by the International Labour Organization (ILO), the Monterey Bay Aquarium and Total Food Processing (Pvt) Ltd, a member of the Bangladesh Frozen Foods Exporters Association.

Michael Krejza, head of development cooperation at the EU Delegation to Bangladesh, spoke as a special guest, while ILO Bangladesh Country Director Max Tunon delivered the closing remarks.

Participants said coordinated efforts by the government, development partners and private sector could help establish Bangladeshi shrimp as a responsible, environmentally friendly and sustainable product in international markets.