Adequate cargo flights on international routes are now a high demand to increase export of fresh fruits and vegetables for good prices as well as increase demand for Bangladesh products in the world market.
Exporters say, with the introduction of separate cargo aircraft for the export of vegetables and fruits, the country’s foreign exchange earnings will increase.
As demand for vegetables and fruits is increasing in Europe, the Middle East and 43 other countries, businessmen of the sector termed such cargo flights are now the demand of the time.
Exporters said, as the country does not have adequate cargo flights of its own, despite increasing demand of agricultural products abroad, it cannot utilize such opportunities. On the other hand, foreign international airlines are taking away a huge amount of money by providing cargo services.
President of Bangladesh Fruit Vegetable and Allied Products Exporters Association (BFVAPEA) SM Jahangir Hossain told Bangladesh Post, “Green vegetable and fruit demand is increasing gradually in the world. Despite Covid-19, our export increased to Sweden, Belgium, Greece, and other non EU countries. We hope our export will increase 10 percent to 20 percent this season. But we are facing a crisis in cargo flights”.
According to sources, even some countries which do not have air connectivity with Bangladesh have shown interest to import agricultural products from here.
Day by day foreign buyers are becoming more interested in the agricultural products produced in the temperate climate here. Therefore, big growth is possible in this sector every year. For this, exporters have demanded removing the obstacles in this sector.
In this regard, Jahangir Hossain said, “Those countries which do not have air connectivity with Bangladesh are also getting agricultural products from us. In that case, we export to their neighboring countries where we get access, from there they receive our products.”
Citing this process as troublesome, he said, “Introducing more cargo flights worldwide would help them to solve such a lengthy process. In this regard, the government can play a vital role.”
Meanwhile, national flag carrier Biman Bangladesh Airlines has taken initiative to procure two aircraft to launch cargo flights on international routes. Analysts said the launch of cargo flights will make it possible to transport goods by air at a lower cost.
On the other hand, the country’s leading private airliner US Bangla Airlines is also planning to introduce cargo flights.
US Bangla Airlines General Manager, Kamrul Islam told Bangladesh Post, “We have planned to introduce cargo flights very soon. As we are expanding our flights to more international routes, after that we will bring separate cargo flights”.
