The Building Youth Employability Through Skills (BYETS) project, in collaboration with The Daily Star, held its third roundtable discussion on June 26, 2025, which focused on “Export Readiness of Agro-Processing SMEs through Skills Development”. The event was moderated by Ananya Raihan, Chairperson of iSocial Limited, and brought together a wide range of stakeholders. Discussants included representatives from the Bangladesh Agro-Processors' Association (BAPA), the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Embassy of Sweden, Australian High Commission, the International Labour Organization (ILO), the European Union Chamber of Commerce in Bangladesh, agro-processing factories, and other private sector partners. The discussion centred on how targeted, market-responsive skills development can help agro-processing (AP) small and medium enterprises (SMEs) become export-ready.
At the roundtable discussion, Ms Tanzila Tajreen, Senior Policy Advisor at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, stated, “As Bangladesh transitions from LDC status and the Netherlands redefines its global trade approach, supply chain resilience and compliance with international standards are crucial. Dutch collaboration aims to strengthen these areas through skills development and trade facilitation. Agriculture remains a priority for the Netherlands, with shared goals of boosting efficiency, productivity, and inclusive growth in Bangladesh’s agro-processing industry.”
Helal Hussain, Country Director of Swisscontact Bangladesh, highlighted the significant untapped potential of Bangladesh’s agro-processing sector, particularly for SMEs aspiring to enter competitive export markets. He pointed out that value addition through agro-processing offers a major opportunity for growth, given the country’s reliance on agriculture and the increasing demand in global markets. He noted that global demand for safe, high-quality processed food is growing rapidly, and Bangladesh already exports over USD 1.2 billion annually in this sector. However, he cautioned that only 12 per cent of agro-processors currently meet international standards, due to gaps in understanding export rules and standards, packaging and branding, certification, and connecting with buyers.
Md Abul Hashem, President of BAPA, stated that Bangladesh’s agricultural exports could potentially triple from the current USD 1 billion over the next three years — but only if adequate government policy support is introduced. He identified several critical barriers, such as the lack of internationally recognised testing facilities. “The Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) certifications are not globally accepted, which limits our export reach,” he explained.
Sharing a private sector perspective, Mahbub Baset, Chief Operating Officer of IFAD Multi Products Ltd, reflected on his company’s experience navigating export markets and regulatory requirements in order to adopt new compliance practices. "These experiences have helped us strengthen internal controls. Now, with support from the BYETS project, we provide Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and food safety training to new recruits" he said. He also pointed out that exporters continue to face logistical bottlenecks due to the lack of credible laboratories at the local level.
The roundtable provided a platform for open dialogue, with all participants agreeing on the importance of skills development, compliance readiness, and greater coordination between public and private sector actors to help agro-processing SMEs reach international markets.