The poultry sector in Bangladesh, poised to become a multi-billion-dollar industry by 2050, showcased its significant investment potential at the 13th International Poultry Show, held recently at the Bangladesh–China Friendship Exhibition Centre in Dhaka's Purbachal.

"Starting from zero, we now have an investment of nearly Tk 40,000 crore in the sector," said Masudur Rahman, president of the World's Poultry Science Association's Bangladesh Branch (WPSA-BB), according to a press release.

He made the remarks at the three-day event, which concluded today and attracted nearly 30,000 visitors.

Over 200 companies from 27 countries showcased products and services at more than 800 booths.

The event was jointly organised by the WPSA-BB and the Bangladesh Poultry Industries Central Council (BPICC).

Business deals worth at least several thousand crore taka were made, the press release stated.

It is expected that multiple small and large projects will be implemented within the next two years, significantly contributing to the production of safe eggs, chicken, and feed.

Rahman expressed optimism that the poultry industry would reach a market size of Tk 80,000 crore by 2050, adding that Bangladesh's poultry sector had the potential to become a model for South Asia.

"To sustain the domestic poultry industry, we must make farm registration mandatory for both large and small farms. Without proper waste-management planning, farms should not be allowed to register," he said.

He also highlighted the opportunities in poultry recycling and emphasized the need for special incentives to support the import of essential technologies and encourage entrepreneurs to establish industries.

Rahman further mentioned that Bangladesh is working towards achieving "net-zero carbon" in poultry farming.

By installing solar panels on the rooftops of large and medium-sized poultry farms, several hundred megawatts of electricity could be generated, he noted.

Shamsul Arefin Khaled, president of BPICC, stressed that proper training for farmers is crucial to ensuring the production of safe eggs, chicken, and feed.

He also emphasized the need to expand small farms.

"In just 54 years, we have increased availability from 1 kg of chicken meat and 20 eggs per person per year to nearly 10 kg of chicken meat and 135 eggs per person annually," he said.

"By 2035, we are hopeful that this number will double."

Khaled also pointed out that increasing protein consumption alone is not enough—it must go hand in hand with equitable distribution.

Biplob Kumar Pramanik, general secretary of WPSA-BB, stated, "If everyone consumes one egg per day, the poultry industry would double in size."

Although this year's fair was held somewhat on the outskirts of the city, it received an unprecedented response from poultry farmers and entrepreneurs, he added.

Mohammad Abu Sufian, director general of the Department of Livestock Services, remarked, "If we can effectively utilize advanced technologies and skilled manpower, we can achieve significant progress."

Andree Karstens, chargé d'affaires at the Netherlands Embassy in Bangladesh, commented positively on the poultry industry's progress.

He said the Dutch government is implementing a project called "PoultryTech Bangladesh" to support its development.

Karstens also mentioned that enhanced cooperation in education and research between Bangladesh and Dutch universities would strengthen ties among poultry sector stakeholders, including teachers, researchers, and scientists.

He assured that the Dutch government would continue its support as a development partner in the future.