Bangladesh has showcased its diverse late-season mangoes and processed products at a festival in Kathmandu, aimed at promoting the country's agricultural excellence and expanding agro-product exports to the Nepali market. The Bangladesh Embassy in Kathmandu organized the 'Bangladesh Mango Delicacy' at UTSAV Kunja, bringing together diplomats, senior Nepali government officials, business leaders, importers, traders, and media representatives.
Promoting Agricultural Excellence
Around 250 guests attended the festival, which featured fresh Bangladeshi mangoes alongside a wide range of value-added products and mango-based desserts. SAARC Secretary General Ambassador Md Golam Sarwar attended the event as the guest of honour, while Ambassador Gahendra Rajbhandari, Joint Secretary of the South Asia Division at Nepal's Foreign Ministry, joined as a special guest.
Strengthening Bilateral Ties
In his welcome remarks, Bangladesh Ambassador to Nepal Md Shafiqur Rahman highlighted the country's progress in agriculture and agro-processing, noting that mangoes hold a special place in Bangladesh's culture, heritage, tradition, and agronomy. The ambassador highlighted the contribution of Bangladeshi scientists and researchers to developing late-season mango varieties, enabling the country to extend the availability of the fruit. He also noted the growth of Bangladesh's mango-processing industry, which produces a variety of products in line with international quality and food-safety standards.
SAARC Secretary General Golam Sarwar said South Asia has a rich heritage and wide variety of mangoes but regretted that the region's exports of fresh mangoes and processed products to international markets remain limited despite their considerable potential. He appreciated the Bangladesh Embassy's initiative and called for greater cooperation among SAARC member states in the agricultural sector. Rajbhandari praised the initiative for showcasing Bangladesh's hospitality and helping build stronger connections between the peoples and business communities of Bangladesh and Nepal.
The exhibition featured late-season mango varieties from Rajshahi, including Fazli, Amrapali, BARI-4, Katimon, Gauramoti, and Ashwina. Bangladeshi companies also showcased processed products such as mango juice, pickles, fruit bars, dried mango, chutney, jam, and jelly. Guests were served mango-based desserts, including cakes, sticky rice with mango, and mango pudding, alongside traditional Bangladeshi cuisine.
The festival also highlighted Bangladesh's advances in modern horticulture, sustainable agriculture, and food-processing technologies. The embassy said the festival was designed not only to showcase Bangladesh's agricultural products but also to create greater awareness among Nepali consumers and encourage partnerships between exporters and importers of the two countries. It expressed hope that such initiatives would help expand bilateral trade in fresh agricultural produce and processed food products while further strengthening economic and people-to-people ties between Bangladesh and Nepal.
