It is wonderful to see that jute products have received an overwhelmingly positive response from buyers at the Jute Fair 2020 held at Officer’s Club, while the ongoing SME fair at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre is also seeing a healthy amount of enthusiasm for the golden fibre.
There is no doubt that the possibilities of jute are endless, and this is good news not just for business, but also for sustainability -- because after all, we are living in times when we can no longer ignore the effects of our actions on the environment.
At the jute fair, over a thousand jute items from over 100 entrepreneurs were put on display, including saris, shirts, coats, baskets, sling bags, and even clipboards. The diversity of products gives a glimpse of what more might be possible with the right investments.
Throughout the history of our country, jute has held a very special place in our cultural heritage, but sadly, for a long time, its potentials have been ignored. But now that we are waking up to the evils of plastic, at long last there is hope that jute will make a much-needed comeback.
When it comes to the exporting sector, there is no reason why Bangladesh-made jute products cannot become a formidable presence in the world -- our RMG sector has dominated on that front thus far, but it is high time we diversified our export basket.
Consumers, both locally and globally, are becoming eco-conscious, and changing buying habits throughout the world could turn them towards our very own golden fibre. We should not miss this opportunity.
