Dhaka: The government today announced the formation of a Joint Working Group (JWG) and plans to organise an International Jute Expo as part of a coordinated initiative to expand Bangladesh’s jute exports and strengthen the sector’s global competitiveness.
The decisions were announced at a coordination meeting titled “Strategic Economic Diplomacy and Export Expansion for Bangladesh’s Jute Sector”, jointly organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Textiles and Jute at the Foreign Ministry in Dhaka.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam and State Minister for Textiles and Jute Md Shariful Alam jointly announced the formation of the working group and the government’s plan to hold the International Jute Expo with a renewed global focus in the near future.
The meeting was attended by secretaries of both ministries, senior government officials, and representatives from the Department of Jute, the jute industry, research institutions and development partner organisations.
Economic Diplomacy to Promote ‘Golden Fibre’
Addressing the meeting, Shama Obaed Islam reaffirmed the government’s commitment to revitalising Bangladesh’s jute sector and restoring the global prominence of the country’s traditional “golden fibre.”
She emphasised the importance of organising international exhibitions of jute and jute products and called for stronger use of economic diplomacy, with Bangladesh’s missions abroad playing a more active role in promoting the country’s jute industry and expanding its global market presence.
State Minister for Textiles and Jute Md Shariful Alam welcomed the Foreign Ministry’s initiative and stressed the need for closer coordination between the two ministries and the private sector to enhance jute production, processing, value addition and market diversification.
National Roadmap for the Jute Sector
The meeting decided that the newly formed Joint Working Group would prepare a national roadmap for promoting Bangladesh’s jute industry through international exhibitions and strategic export promotion.
The working group will also focus on addressing trade barriers, facilitating the establishment of dedicated jute research centres, encouraging the adoption of modern technologies across the sector and monitoring the progress of jute mill modernisation programmes.
The proposed International Jute Expo is expected to bring together domestic and international buyers, researchers, investors and industry stakeholders to showcase Bangladesh’s jute products, strengthen international partnerships and explore new export opportunities for diversified jute goods.
Airport Display Centres, School Bags and Seed Self-Sufficiency
The meeting also discussed establishing mandatory jute display centres and gift shops at Bangladesh’s international airports to promote locally manufactured jute products among foreign visitors.
Participants reviewed plans to accelerate the implementation of a project to introduce jute-made school bags for primary school students as part of efforts to increase domestic use of environmentally friendly products.
Another key priority identified during the meeting was achieving self-sufficiency in jute seed production within the next three years by increasing domestic production and reducing dependence on imports.
Both ministries reaffirmed their commitment to working jointly to transform Bangladesh’s jute industry into a modern, competitive and export-oriented sector, while ensuring fair prices for farmers and strengthening the country’s position as a leading global supplier of sustainable, climate-friendly jute products.
