Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)– Russian sea processors union has sought cooperation from the country’s frozen food exporters to establish a closer business relation with Bangladesh, officials said.

Bangladesh embassy in Moscow has recently sent a letter to the director general of Department of Fisheries (DoF) to take necessary action in this connection.

The general director of the Union of Sea Processors of Russia in a meeting expressed interest for establishing closer business relation with Bangladesh, the letter said.

It added, “This is a unique opportunity for the BFFEA to establish closer ties with the Russian seafood and shrimp importers and thereby gain stronger access to the Russian market.”

Only four local shrimp firms got Russian authority’s approval to export shrimp to their market at the end of 2009, they added.

Last year DoF sent a letter requesting the Russian authority to enlist 25 more local fish and shrimp processing establishments to facilitate export of shrimp and fish products to the Russian market.

They said these 25 EU-approved shrimp and fish processing establishments are fully capable of complying with food safety requirements of the Russian Federation.

“This will be a great opportunity to grab the Russian market,” Md Aminullah, senior vice president of Bangladesh Frozen Food Exporters’ Association (BFFEA), was quoted by the Financial Express (FE), a local newspaper, as saying.

Mr Aminullah is also the managing director of ARK Sea Food Ltd that got the Russian approval to export fish and shrimp products there.

“The Russian market is very important and has been growing rapidly over the last few years. Entry to this market would greatly boost our export,” he said.

Bangladesh earned $431.27 million during July-February of the current fiscal year through overseas shipment of frozen food marking a robust 59 per cent growth compared to the corresponding period of last financial year.

BBN/SSR/AD-20Mar11-11:23 am (BST)