Jute shining again
Being 100 per cent
bio-degradable, recyclable and
environment
friendly jute still has great export potentials
The Prime Ministers intention to revive the jute sector is not new. In fact, it became evident some eight months ago, when at an award distributing ceremony she declared to brand jute and all its related products under the category of agro products. Since then much progress has been made in this regard. Particularly, after the Chinese premiers visit last month, planning to revitalize the sector in cooperation with the Chinese government, aiming to increase the production of jute goods through a process of balancing, modernisation, rehabilitation and expansion (BMRE) of 23 of our state-owned jute mills are now about to see the kick-start of an advanced restoration episode. Some $ 350 million would be required to bring our public jute mills under the BMRE process. According to the proposal submitted to our Chinese counterpart, the amount would be arranged from the Chinese government in the form of a preferential loan. Such fervour, following rapid initiatives to revive the sector was not observed -- at least not in the last one decade. The governments well-timed realisation for reviving the lost splendour of our former number one export article is commendable.
Regarding current progress, it has been reported that a Chinese delegation, headed by the economic and commercial counsellor of the Chinese embassy in Dhaka, recently held discussions with officials of our jute ministry, the proposal said. A six-member CTEXIC team has also visited Bangladesh besides initiating the process of BMRE in three state-owned jute mills respectively. Furthermore, the proposal also aims to produce 275, 000 jute products under the BMRE scheme.
As much as the Chinese technical and financial cooperation, our jute ministry coupled with state-owned mills too, should run the extra mile to meet this production mark. From a mechanical perspective, our jute mills will have to replace their old machineries and equipments in order to materialise the BMRE potentials to export diversified jute products.
Being 100 per cent bio-degradable, recyclable and environment friendly jute hasnt lost its export potentials. It was Bangladeshs successive governments lackadaisical and inefficient ways of handling which had slowed down the progress of the sector.
Rather confidently, the current regime has pro-actively broken out of that depressing sequence in tacking the sector. Worldwide the demand for organic product consumption has shot up exponentially. Keeping this in mind, we expect the concerned jute authorities to strategise their upcoming planning and programmes in line with BMRE pre-conditions.
Lastly, apart from the promised Chinese assistance, we from our end should be sincere enough to leave no stone unturned to restore the lost glory of our golden fibre - jute.
