The U.S. Embassy and Bangladesh Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock Celebrate 50 Years of U.S.-Bangladesh Cooperation in the Livestock Sector

DHAKA, MAY 30, 2022 — On May 25 (Wednesday), Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM) Helen LaFave and the Honorable Minister of Fisheries and Livestock SM Rezaul Karim celebrated 50 years of U.S.-Bangladesh Cooperation in the Livestock Sector. They were joined by officials from the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, Bangladeshi industry, and U.S. industry representatives from U.S. Livestock Genetics Export (USLGE). USLGE is a non-profit trade organization that brings together a broad base of U.S. livestock organizations.

“We have provided millions of dollars in funding to develop the livestock industry and are now looking to expand our trading relationship in the sector,” said DCM LaFave. “Each year, Bangladesh sources more and more high-quality livestock and genetics from the United States. Last year alone, Bangladesh imported more than $7 million, a record amount.”

This event was the first time the U.S. livestock industry has traveled to Bangladesh to learn more about the growing market. In addition to this event, USLGE representatives and the American businesses are meetings with businesses and government stakeholders, traveling to the Government of Bangladesh’s dairy farm, artificial insemination lab, and quality control lab in Savar, and visiting commercial dairy farms in Saidpur.

Over the past 50 years, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) have worked closely with Bangladesh to develop the livestock industry. From 2013-2017, USDA supported Bangladesh through the $7 million Bangladesh Dairy Enhancement Program, which improved farm management practices and increased milk production.