The Netherlands on Friday expressed strong support for Bangladesh’s potato sector as the country hosted its first-ever Potato Festival 2025, a two-day event launched at the International Convention City Bashundhara (ICCB).

The festival, organised by the Bangladesh Cold Storage Association (BCSA) with support from the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, aims to showcase the future of Bangladesh’s potato industry, bringing together farmers, researchers, innovators and industry leaders from across the value chain.

Speaking at the inauguration, Dutch Ambassador to Bangladesh Joris van Bommel underscored the long-standing partnership between the two countries in potato cultivation, seed supply and agro-logistics.

More than 95 percent of Bangladesh’s imported seed potatoes come from the Netherlands, while most of the country’s popular potato varieties are of Dutch origin, the embassy said. Dutch companies have been working with Bangladesh’s potato sector for over five decades, and in many rural areas potatoes are commonly referred to as “Holland-er Aloo”.

The ambassador highlighted the shared commitment of Bangladesh and the Netherlands to innovation, climate-resilient agriculture, advanced cold-chain systems and modern agro-logistics, describing these as crucial for enhancing Bangladesh’s competitiveness in global markets.

The festival features exhibitions of diversified potato-based products alongside demonstrations of modern cool-chain and cold-storage technologies.

The Netherlands congratulated BCSA and its partners for launching what it described as a timely initiative and reaffirmed its interest in strengthening bilateral cooperation in agriculture, technology and sustainable food systems, according to a statement shared by the Dutch embassy on social media.