Food Minister Afroza Khanam said ensuring a safe, hygienic and quality food supply for consumers, alongside food security, is one of the government’s key priorities. She said quality control must be given importance at every stage, from food production to processing, storage and marketing.

She made the remarks at the inaugural ceremony of the 11th BAPA FoodPro International Expo 2026 at the International Convention City Bashundhara (ICCB) in the capital on Thursday. After the opening ceremony, she visited various stalls at the expo.

The expo has been jointly organised by the Bangladesh Agro-Processors Association (BAPA) and Rainbow Exhibition & Event Management Services Limited (REEMS).

The food minister said safe and quality food production and processing, along with the use of modern technology, are crucial to the development of the country’s food industry. The government, entrepreneurs and all relevant stakeholders must work together to further develop the country’s highly promising food and agro-based industries. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, the government is giving the highest priority to implementing the commitments made in the BNP’s election manifesto to ensure food security, develop agriculture and improve farmers’ livelihoods, and provide safe and quality food for the people.

Calling on entrepreneurs in the country’s food and processed food industries to further strengthen their position in international markets, the minister said there are opportunities to improve the quality of Bangladeshi food products and expand exports by harnessing modern technology and innovation, thereby earning foreign currency.

She said initiatives were being taken to modernise the country’s food processing industry and make it technology-driven and compliant with international standards. These efforts aim to ensure fair prices for agricultural products, reduce wastage, create employment and increase exports of domestic products. In this regard, events such as the BAPA FoodPro International Expo will play an important role in creating links among entrepreneurs, technologists and international partners and helping the government implement these commitments.