Skilled manpower, advanced technology and developing entrepreneurship are a must to meet the demand for jute diversified products, industry insiders say.
They said the sector fails to live up to the buyers expectation due to lack of capacity and skilled workforce.
Several exhibitors exchanged their views while talking to the Dhaka tribune on the concluding day Tuesday of a three-day Jute Goods Fair 2016.
They said they received more orders than their capacity.
Lack of skilled manpower is the main bar to the jute sector to flourish, they added.
The Textiles and Jute Ministry organised the three-day mega expo to display jute diversified products and award individuals and organisations that played an important role in implementing the Mandatory Jute Packaging Act 2010.
The sector people also urged the government to take initiatives to train workers and educated young people on the latest trends of jute products.
“The number of skilled manpower is much lower than required while the sector is unable to use the latest technology due to shortage of technically sound workers,” Md Rashedul Karim Munna, managing director of Creation Private Limited, a jute good manufacturer, told the Dhaka Tribune.
Earlier, Bangladeshi manufacturers had to hunt for markets and buyers, but presently, because of development of RMG and other sectors, opportunity knocks.
Bangladesh has the market of jute diversified products and there are renowned global chain shops in the capital, Munna, said, adding that “due to shortage of designers and skilled manpower we are unable to grab the opportunity.”
“Once upon a time, we used to approach the buyers to sell products, but now they come to use for goods.”
Since the opportunity rings the bell once again, there is no alternative to creating skilled manpower to bring back the lost glory of jute, added Munna.
Compliance, safety and eco-freiendly manufacturing are the key components to attract buyers as well as the consumers. Bangladesh is now marching towards a sustainable business development and concentrating on safety issues.
“Since compliance is a big concern across the globe, manufacturers have to be compliant. They have also to be ethical and responsible,” Helal Uddin, an exhibitor told the Dhaka Tribune.
If the manufacturers can set ethical standard, they will have plenty of work orders, he said.
On the other hand, new entrepreneurship, marketing strategy and product development are other key elements to add value and more production.
The problems with the manufacturers are that they make products according to their own choice. The products should meet the buyers' demand and they have to be akin to culture.
The government can turn the educated young into entrepreneurs through skill development dedicated for jute sector, he added.
Bangladesh has to invest in training and technical education to train the young individuals about the latest trend of jute products, said the exhibitor.
There are a lot of fresh graduates hunting for jobs. The sector people and the government can create entrepreneurs through training, sector people said.
It needs less capital to begin a start-up and the return is bigger, they added.
According to the Export Promotion Bureau data, in the first seven months of the current fiscal year, Bangladesh earned $494.50 million, exporting jute and jute goods.
Of the total amount, $83.43 million came from raw jute, $301.38 million from yarn and $72.66 million from sacks and bags export.
