Australia offers wheat export to Bangladesh amid ongoing US deal
Australia offered to export wheat to Bangladesh during bilateral talks on food security and cooperation. Bangladesh has not yet responded, as it continues implementing an existing wheat import agreement with the United States amid shifting global supply dynamics.
Australia has expressed interest in selling wheat to Bangladesh even as the country continues implementing an existing import agreement with the US. Bangladesh, however, has not yet made any official response to the proposal.
The offer was made on Thursday when Australian High Commissioner Susan Ryle met Food Minister Md Abdul Bari MP at his office at the Secretariat.
At the beginning of the meeting, the food minister welcomed the delegation led by the high commissioner.
During the discussion, both sides talked about food security, food management systems, and ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation between Bangladesh and Australia.
The food minister briefed the Australian envoy on various government initiatives aimed at ensuring food security in Bangladesh. He said the government was working continuously to strengthen food reserves and supply systems, with special emphasis on modern storage and warehouse management.
He added that ensuring safe food for all citizens remained a major challenge, but the government was working in a phased manner with necessary measures already in place.
High Commissioner Susan Ryle praised Bangladesh’s socio-economic progress and improvements in food management, thanking the minister for the meeting.
She noted the long-standing bilateral relations between Bangladesh and Australia since independence and also mentioned around 28,000 Bangladeshi students currently studying in Australia.
During the meeting, she formally proposed wheat exports from Australia to Bangladesh.
However, no immediate response was given by the food minister regarding the proposal, according to officials.
Bangladesh has previously imported wheat from Russia and Ukraine, but shifted away due to the ongoing conflict between the two countries. Last year, Bangladesh signed an agreement with the US for wheat imports, which is still in effect.
Officials said the possibility of importing wheat from Australia remains uncertain at this stage and would depend on contractual obligations, market realities, and domestic demand and production conditions.
Food Secretary Abu Taher Md Masud Rana, Australian Deputy High Commissioner Clinton Pobke, and Second Secretary (Economic) Joshua Gakuten were also present at the meeting, according to a ministry press release.
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Source : Deshkal News
