Speeches and Remarks

Remarks by U.S. Ambassador James F. Moriarty at Seminar on Shrimp Exports from Bangladesh: Prospects and Challenges 

SEPTEMBER 30, 2009

Mr. Muhammad Faruk Khan, Hon’ble Minister, Ministry of Commerce; Mr. Feroz Ahmed, Secretary, Ministry of Commerce; Mr.  Shah Alam, Secretary, Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock; Ambassador Stefan Frowein, Head of Delegation of the European Commission to Bangladesh, and Dr. George Chamberlain, Chairman, Global Aquaculture Alliance; Assalam-u-Alaikum and good morning.

I am happy to see that the Government of Bangladesh and the shrimp industry have come together to discuss the development of the shrimp sector.  The Bangladesh shrimp industry provides jobs for hundreds of thousands of people, the overwhelming majority of whom are among the rural poor.  When traveling through the country, I have seen the dedication and the hard work of the people who contribute to this vital economic activity.

Thanks to this effort and investment, shrimp is now Bangladesh’s second largest source of export earnings.  This is not a small achievement and it is hard to overstate the importance of the sector, both locally and nationally. 

Today, the harsh reality is that this industry -- and the hundreds of thousands of jobs and millions of dollars of export earnings it provides -- is under threat.  Cyclones Sidr and Aila seriously damaged the shrimp industry in the south western part of the country.  The number of safety alerts raised regarding Bangladesh shrimp exports to the European Union is alarming.  These are serious issues, but through your efforts and with the support of the U.S. and others, Bangladesh will overcome these challenges.

I hope that growth in the shrimp sector will be impressive in coming years, contributing towards increased incomes and employment in rural areas.  This growth should not, however, come at the expense of environmental degradation.  Following environmentally safe shrimp industry practices, with an eye towards sustainability, is critical for the industry.  For example, the collection of shrimp larvae from its natural habitat – the open brackish water or the sea – can wipe out many other species if not carefully managed.  Punching holes in the coastal protection embankments to bring in sea water for the shrimp farms can be disastrous in the event of storms and tidal surges, as was witnessed after Cyclonic Storm Aila earlier this year.  The environment should be seriously considered and protected as business and Government work to develop the shrimp industry.

The U.S. Government has been helping improve the Bangladeshi shrimp sector since 2001.  The U.S. Government, through USAID, supports “Poverty Reduction by Increasing the Competitiveness of Enterprises,” known as PRICE.  This program works with more than 5,000 shrimp farmers, processors and traders to increase farm yield, assure product quality, and meet labor standards.  The U.S. Government is also working to increase the Government of Bangladesh’s capacity to enforce quality in the factories in order to increase overall shrimp exports.  Through USAID’s PRICE program, we will help the project beneficiaries increase their average yield from 250 kg per hector to 800 kg.  

We estimate that PRICE program beneficiaries will earn an additional $100 million in the next five years as a result of higher yields.  In addition, we project that PRICE will generate more than 30,000 new jobs in the shrimp handling, farming and processing sectors.  

The U.S. Government has been actively engaged in the development and implementation of your national action plan.  The national action plan sets out a roadmap for changing the way that the industry operates.  It addresses the issues of contamination and pre-export testing, which are both vital in order to save and build this key industry.

But a National Action Plan is only a piece of paper without people.  Your commitment will define the success of this initiative.  As President Obama said, “Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time.”  I think that we all know that now is not the time to wait.  The task is urgent and the stakes are high.  This is why it is so encouraging for me to see the participation of the Government, the private sector and Bangladesh’s international partners at today’s event.

The United States plays an important role as a market for Bangladesh shrimp.  In 2008, the United States consumers bought half of your shrimp exports, worth more than $100 million.   However, in order to expand markets for Bangladesh shrimp exports, producers here must adhere to international standards, particularly with regard to health, environment and labor standards.   As the temporary suspension of trade with Europe illustrated, Bangladesh shrimp exports must be safe and of high quality.  The good news is that meeting health, safety and environmental standards will ensure increased demand for Bangladesh shrimp.  Consumers in the United States and Europe also pay attention to the conditions of workers who harvest and process products like shrimp.  Farmers and producers here must continue their efforts to meet higher labor standards in order to guarantee continued access to international markets.

So, let me close by noting that the United States Government wants to see your industry flourish.  We stand ready to help you overcome the current crisis and build the shrimp industry for the future.  We want to see your exports grow, and we want everyone involved in the industry to share in the economic benefits that shrimp farming can bring to Bangladesh.

Thank you.