The European Union and Saudi Arabia showed interest in promoting Bangladesh’s jute in their markets as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs displayed the potential of the country’s golden fiber in a first-of-its-kind initiative on Friday through an exhibition and fashion show.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam sought international support to enhance market visibility as the government declared jute the “Product of the Year 2023”.
Bangladesh exports jute products to 135 countries including the US, Europe, Australia, and South Korea. However, the earning is only $912 million.
The foreign ministry took the initiative to promote the products by inviting all the diplomatic missions and the international agencies in Dhaka.
Models walked the ramp made at the premises of the Foreign Service Academy showcasing a dazzling range of clothing and accessories that portrayed the versatility of the jute products.
“We hope to join hands with all willing partners to enhance jute’s market visibility, align it with global sustainability trends, and foster an inclusive, green growth for a climate-neutral future,” the state minister said while inaugurating the event styled "projecting jute as the fibre of the future".
Jute has been very much part of Bangladesh’s independence struggle.
The foreign currency earned from jute produced here was disproportionately used between the two parts of erstwhile Pakistan.
The evident discriminatory treatment further fuelled the Bangali nation’s aspiration for self-determination, the state minister said.
In the independent Bangladesh, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s government nationalized the jute factories abandoned by their Pakistan-origin owners.
But with the worldwide spread of synthetic products like plastic, jute started losing its prominence in the global packaging and carpet industries.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina took steps to help revive the jute industry through a series of policy and fiscal interventions.
She declared jute as the product of the year in 2023 and she herself wore jute-made sarees.
“We now know that diverse solutions like high-value activated charcoal to high-tech applications like geo-textiles can be derived from jute, and it falls on us to further disseminate this information. We must seize the opportunity to project jute as the “fibre of the future” as part of the green growth strategy our world is pursuing,” State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam said.
“To this end, Bangladesh has taken the initiative to get a Resolution on the use of jute and other natural fibres adopted by the UN General Assembly every two years,” he said.
Five-point proposals
“From the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, we stand ready to work together with all concerned stakeholders to run a strategic campaign on jute in the spirit of the UNGA Resolution. We wish to see jute featured as a core element of ‘Branding Bangladesh’ in the broader context of sustainable development, fair trade, and climate action," the state minister said.
“We would like to invite our friends and partners from around the world to join us in this initiative,” he said, offering five specific suggestions for forging mutually beneficial partnerships.
First, promote jute as an eco-friendly alternative to non-degradable materials as part of our shared commitment to a nature-positive world;
Second, support free and fair trade in jute and jute products as a way to support jute cultivators and entrepreneurs – the real custodians of this unique natural resource;
Third, invest in research and innovation for stress-resistant jute varieties and high value-added jute products towards exploring jute’s optimum potentials;
Fourth, support efficient product design and development, including for extracting and processing raw jute, with a view to improving quality and preventing wastage or pollution;
Fifth, spread words about jute as a possible lifestyle choice for youth around the world in their search for sustainable textiles, packaging, furnishings or paper.
FDI, research and development, branding
EU Head of Delegation in Dhaka Ambassador Charles Whiteley said he is shocked to see there is only €50 million worth of exports of jute products to the EU, despite all the natural advantages such as durability, and sustainability.
“That should be a natural selling point in the European market,” he said. “And I think it will become more of a natural selling point as we see the kind of far-reaching legislation that's coming from the European Union on sustainability, circular economy and so forth.”
He endorsed the state minister's five-point proposals and said the FDI and research and development and branding are "key ".
He said there was a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by the Netherlands in November 2022 with the Centre for Promotion of Imports from Developing Countries expressly designed to help small and medium enterprises in Bangladesh export new products in the home furnishings area, home textiles and so forth and access the European market.
“So we need more of that. We need more Memorandum of Understanding with European countries that can provide a policy framework for export but also provide express support to SME,” he said.
Saudi Arabia ambassador in Dhaka Essa bin Yousef Al Duhailan while asking a question in a panel discussion said the Kingdom would support any initiative taken by Bangladesh to promote jute products.
“Why are you not exploring new markets? Why are you not focusing on the Gulf countries or Asia markets? You are focusing on the old markets like the EU and Turkey,” he said.
President of Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry Sameer Sattar said many exporters are not aware of the market where they can sell their products, seeking support of the Bangladesh embassies in this regard.
“We don’t need any incentives. We need policy support,” Sheikh Nasir Uddin, director of Bangladesh Jute Spinners Association, said at the panel discussion.
