EU deligation visit Bangladeshi shrimp industry

A three-member delegation of the European Union (EU) arrives here tomorrow to observe the shrimp industry, as freshwater shrimps worth Tk 300 crore have been prepared here for export. The delegation of the EU's Food and Veterinary Mission will visit some shrimp processing factories, shrimp enclosures and hatcheries during their three-day visit. They will also exchange views with people involved with the shrimp industry, the country's second-biggest foreign-currency earning sector. Export of freshwater shrimps to the EU resumes this month after six months' suspension since June last following detection of health-hazardous antibiotic Nitrofuran in consignments of exported shrimps in January 2009. The importers had cancelled over 50 consignments of lobsters bound for Europe. As a result, export of the frozen shrimps remained suspended, creating a crisis in the sector. Now, freshwater shrimps worth Tk 300 crore have been prepared here for export. Bangladesh earned Tk 414.34 crore in shrimp export last fiscal year with Tk 300 crore from the EU countries.