The United States has pledged its assistance to Bangladesh in establishing a cold chain management system of international standards.

The Bangladesh Cold Storage Association (BCSA) announced on Tuesday that it is taking the lead in developing such a system in the country.

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between the BCSA and Land O’Lakes Venture37, an implementing agency of the Bangladesh Trade Facilitation Project funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

The agreement was signed by Mostafa Azad Chowdhury Babu, the President of BCSA and Senior Vice President of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), on behalf of the BCSA. Michael J. Parr, the Project Director of Land O’Lakes Venture37, signed the contract on behalf of the organization.

The agreement’s objectives include improving the technical skills of individuals employed in the cold storage industry, maximizing the utilization of technology, and enhancing the capacity of existing cold storage facilities.

Mostafa Azad Chowdhury Babu emphasized that developing cold storage facilities in line with international standards would significantly change Bangladesh’s cold chain management and agricultural product supply system.

The BCSA is dedicated to increasing potato and other vegetable and fruit production, diversifying agricultural products, expanding exports, and ensuring food security in the country.

The collaboration between the BCSA and Land O’Lakes Venture37, with support from the United States, is expected to contribute to the modernization of Bangladesh’s cold chain infrastructure and enhance the agricultural sector’s efficiency.