The ministry of commerce (MoC) is going to take a number of initiatives with a view to boosting crab export in the days to come, sources said.
The decision was taken Thursday at an MoC meeting with Bangladesh Live and Chilled Food Exporters Association (BLCFEA) representatives held at the ministry, they said.
The Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) will take necessary steps as early as possible to detect the existing barriers to exporting crab. Besides, the MoC will discuss the issue with the ministry of environment and forest (MoEF) in this connection.
Finally, for removing the existing barriers, the MoC will sit with the MoEF and BLCFEA again, if needed, a high official of the MoC told the FE after the meeting.
The export of crab has been hampered for long due to lack of adequate no objection certificates (NOCs) from the MoEF, industry insiders said.
"The demand for our crab is increasing significantly in different markets across the world, especially in China, Singapore, Hong Kong etc. So, we should take effective measures for improving the export procedure to tap the potential of the new markets," an industry insider said.
"If we can increase crab export, it will also help enhance relations with importing countries," he added.