Bangladesh and China have signed a memorandum of understanding to facilitate the export of Bangladeshi jackfruit to the Chinese market. The agreement, concluded during Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s recent visit to China, is viewed as a significant step for Bangladesh’s agricultural export sector. According to the Prime Minister’s Office, the two countries signed a total of 17 MoUs covering areas such as infrastructure, disaster management, digital economy, and agricultural trade.

Experts note that despite being an agriculture-based economy, Bangladesh has yet to achieve its full export potential. Access to China’s vast market could help increase farmers’ income and expand the agricultural economy, while also opening new markets for other produce. However, challenges remain in maintaining international quality standards, improving processing, storage, and packaging systems.

Global demand for jackfruit is rising, with the export market growing from USD 2 billion in 2012 to USD 3.7 billion in 2023. Bangladesh, one of the world’s largest producers, currently holds only 0.3 percent of global exports. Experts emphasize that enhancing processing capacity and ensuring quality compliance are essential for Bangladesh to compete internationally.