The government’s timely action is helping the golden fibers jute to regain old glory and has started showing a golden dream again.
Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi said this while speaking as the chief guest at the opening ceremony of ‘Jute Products Business Promotion Council’-JPBPC at the conference room of the Ministry of Commerce on Sunday.
The Minister of Commerce said that the government has taken initiatives to increase the export of jute products to various countries including Europe by improving the internal market management. To this end, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has declared jute products as the ‘Product of the Year’ for 2023. According to the Prime Minister's announcement, the Jute Products Business Promotion Council has been constituted by the Ministry of Commerce to accelerate the development of this potential sector.
Stating that the government is providing all kinds of support in the production of jute and jute products, the commerce minister said that currently the production of jute and consumption of jute products has increased. Many are turning their fortunes by producing and exporting jute and jute products.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has issued necessary instructions to each High Commissioner/Ambassador to showcase jute products and market expansion in abroad. As a result, jute has started gaining its old glory, he added.
Jute Products Business Promotion Council (JPBPC) will play an important role in increasing the export of multipurpose jute products in the international market besides accelerating the revival and modernization of the jute industry in the country, he said.
The minister said that 72 percent of the global export income of the jute sector is now in the possession of Bangladesh. Besides, the local market of the country has increased the demand for bags from 10 crores to 70 crores and the demand for other jute products is around 1000 crores.
According to the data of the Export Development Bureau, in the fiscal year 2021-22, the export of jute and jute products earned about USD 113 million.
Calling upon the countrymen to increase the use of jute bags as an alternative to polythene bags, the commerce minister said that jute bags protect the environment. Although jute bags are more expensive than polythene bags, they are eco-friendly.
