Halal meat processing entrepreneurs have sought subsidy on export of further processed meat (FPM) products as competitive advantages of FPM are higher than those of meats in the international market, industry insiders said.
Halal Meat Processing Industries Association of Bangladesh (HMPIAB) has requested the commerce ministry to take necessary action to this end.
Currently, the country's halal meat exporters are enjoying 20 per cent subsidy for their export consignments, according to a Bangladesh Bank circular issued on December 07, 2006.
Meats of duck, chicken, buffalo, sheep, cow and goat slaughtered through halal process come under the facility.
Members of the HMPIAB have been exporting halal meats and are enjoying subsidy on export of those.
At present, demand of FPM products including chicken burger patty, chicken nuggets, chicken samosa, chicken sausage, beef kolija singara, beef sausage, beef burger patty and beef bacon has been gradually increasing in the global market in addition to the exported halal meats.
Export of FPM products has been increasing across the global market for two reasons-one is higher labour cost in the international market and the other is meat products are more processed due to being cooked than exported meats.
When contacted, an entrepreneur said the government should bring the sector under the facility as it is prioritising food-processing industries to boost export of food items.
The country can fetch US$10 billion a year by exporting Halal food items, according to the commerce ministry.
The global demand for Halal food is around 2.1 trillion annually. The global Halal food and beverage industries will grow to nearly US$10.51 trillion by 2024, as more countries are joining the bandwagon, according to the commerce ministry.
