Commerce, Industries, Textiles and Jute Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir has promised quick implementation of a packing house-cum-cold storage project in Sylhet to widen the scope for storing and exporting agricultural produce.

Speaking as chief guest at a stakeholders' meeting organised by the divisional office of the Department of Agricultural Marketing at the Sylhet Circuit House on Tuesday, the minister said the necessary study would be carried out on the model of the Shyampur packing house and cold storage and work would begin quickly, with the scope expanded later as needed.

If the project is carried out quickly, he said, Sylhet can be built into one of Bangladesh's main agricultural export regions, and the work should be taken forward with the cooperation of agricultural entrepreneurs, business leaders and the government officials concerned.

Infrastructure for storing, packaging and exporting farm produce in Sylhet would benefit farmers and agricultural entrepreneurs, cut the waste of produce and improve access for Sylhet's agricultural products to international markets, the minister said.

Divisional commissioner Md Mashiur Rahman chaired the meeting. Sylhet City Corporation administrator Abdul Kaium Chowdhury, Sylhet Development Authority chairman Rezaul Hasan Koyes Lodi, deputy commissioner Abdullah Al Mamun and Department of Agricultural Marketing deputy director Julia Jesmin Mili were among the government officials and business leaders present.

Reported by the Krishi Shomoy desk.

Source: Krishi Shomoy