PRAN first in BD to export food products to India thru waterway

PRAN started its export to neighboring India in 1997 with the export of “Chanachur” to Tripura. From there, PRAN products are now being exported to 28 states of India.

In the golden jubilee of Bangladesh’s independence, PRAN will send its first consignment of litchi drink to India from PRAN Industrial Park at Palash upazila in Narsingdi on March 16. A total of 25 thousand cartons of litchi drink will reach TT shed in Kolkata port. State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury will inaugurate the programme. The cargo ship will start its journey from Shitalakshya river in Narsingdi, enter India via Narayanganj, Sheikhbaria in Khulna and reach the port of Kolkata. It will take eight days to reach. 

The cost of transporting goods by water is 30 percent less than by road. There is a risk of product spoilage or product quality loss due to poor road conditions in many places. But the waterway is safe. Transporting goods by truck requires multiple loading and unloading. This has the potential to degrade the quality of the product. But the quality of the goods is remain well in the transportation by water.

It takes a lot of trucks to send goods by road in which exporters face some problems to arrange the vehicles. Besides, truck fare also fluctuates at different times. This increases the cost. But many goods can be sent together in one barge on the waterway. 

Mentionable exported products in India: PRAN currently exports more than 150 products to India. Of these, notable products are fruit drinks, chips, snacks, biscuits, candy, sauce, ketchup, noodles, sauce, jelly and spice.

Notable exported states: Assam, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Tripura, Gujarat, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Kerala.

Export routes: Land ports include Bhomra, Burimari, Sutarkandi, Akhaura, Dauki. The seaport includes Chittagong port.

PRAN product market in India: India has a huge market for PRAN products. Being a neighboring country, India has a lot in common with us on various issues including weather, food habits. There is a huge demand of processed food products produced in Bangladesh, especially in the West Bengal and Seven Sisters regions India.

Export of PRAN products to India in the last 3 years:

It is mentionable that due to Coronavirus outbreak, the export of goods to India has been comparatively less in 2020. Hence, the exporting of PRAN products to India was less in this fiscal year. But now export activities have become normal.

PRAN products in famous and expensive super shops of India: PRAN products are competing with famous brands of different countries in India and taking place in all the famous chain shops and online shops of the country which is a matter of great pride for Bangladesh. These super shops and online stores are D-Mart, Spencer Retail, More Retail, Metro Cash & Carry, Big Basket Online, Amazon India, Grofers and Uran Online Store.

PRAN Group Products: At present, about 500 kinds of PRAN products are being exported to 145 countries of the world. In recognition of its outstanding contribution in the export trade, the PRAN-RFL Group has won the National Export Trophy for 16 times in a row from the government.

Kamruzzaman Kamal, Director (Marketing) of PRAN-RFL Group, said, PRAN is constantly trying to supply products that meet the needs of the people of the neighboring country. The export of PRAN to India is growing at an average rate of 10 per cent every year. A new horizon will be opened in the export of food products to India if the water routes are added.