Launch of national oil fortification program and first meeting of business leaders at start of GAIN Board meeting
Dhaka, 4 November 2007 (GAIN) – The Government of Bangladesh, the Vegetable Oil Refiners Association and the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition today launch a national program to add vitamin A to 70% of all cooking oil in Bangladesh to improve public health.
“This program is a unique step in Bangladesh’s effort to fight malnutrition: by delivering a common product with a vitamin that is urgently needed, the government and private sector are making the people, the country and its economy healthier, stronger and more productive,” says Marc Van Ameringen, Executive Director of GAIN.
This program aims to produce 700,000 metric tons of fortified oil per year, by 2010. It will then have a market share of 70 % and improve the health of 90 million people, including 30 million women and children who are most at risk of vitamin A deficiency. Presently, the Government of Bangladesh has programs in place that provide at least one dose of vitamin A to an estimated 90% of children per year.
“Fortification of staple foods makes a cheap, safe and effective contribution to the elimination of malnutrition in Bangladesh and thereby gives economic development a major boost,” says Mr. Ayub Mia, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Industries of Bangladesh.
“Once the hurdle of the initial investment is taken, the addition of vitamin A to cooking oil will be an integral part of the oil producers’ production that creates sustainable value for government, business and consumers,” says Mr. M.A. Rouf Chowdhury, Chairman of the MARC group and Director of FBCCI.
Business Alliance
GAIN also organizes the first-ever meeting of Bangladeshi business leaders to encourage the private sector to play their part in improving nutrition.
The GAIN Business Alliance, an international network of companies committed to fighting malnutrition, and other public-private partnerships have already demonstrated that involvement of the private sector creates sustainable value for all parties involved: people, economies and countries can grow stronger, healthier and more productive through improved nutrition.
One example from Bangladesh is the Grameen-Danone partnership, which produces fortified yoghurt and markets it through networks of women. The project is also supported by GAIN. It seeks to deliver concrete benefits for the local economy, the health of consumers, and the companies who founded this new enterprise.
“The GAIN Business Alliance mobilizes the business sector to fight malnutrition in the knowledge that everyone benefits. We hope to encourage and co-create new examples of innovation in the food industry that improve public health,” says Van Ameringen.
GAIN Board Meeting
The launch of the oil fortification project and the meeting of business leaders coincide with the start of the GAIN Board meeting in Dhaka. The Board governs the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition and brings together leaders from government, business, science and civil society.
“GAIN is an alliance that fights malnutrition, and its role is to create new partnerships that contribute to that global cause. That is why we are happy to be here today to witness the launch of the national oil program, and to play our part in stimulating the private sector in Bangladesh to do more,” says Jay Naidoo, Chairman of the GAIN Board.
More information
Elroy Bos - Senior Manager, Communications and Advocacy - ebos@gaingeneva.org
Ruchika Sachdeva – Coordinator, Investments and Partnerships – rsachdeva@gaingeneva.org
