Call for diversification of jute products

The council of International Jute Study Group (IJSG) in its fifth session in Dhaka yesterday underscored the need for increasing the number of member countries and making vigorous efforts towards diversification of jute products.

It approved five new projects and a $ 47,500 budget for their implementation. The projects will focus on developing modern technologies for jute industry and holding seminars and workshops in Nepal, Myanmar, Egypt and Pakistan.

"Bangladesh intends to make efforts to increase the number of IJSG members and facilitate the issues of jute fibre diversification," Bangladesh delegate in the session Abdur Rahman, secretary to the Ministry of Jute, told The Daily Star.

He said Bangladesh produces five million bales of raw jute out of which 1.6 million bales are exported and three millions are domestically consumed.

"Relatively higher prices of jute products, people's mind-set and lack of awareness are responsible for the deplorable situation of jute market despite a vigorous environmentalist movement throughout the world," Indian Textile Secretary SB Mahapatra said.

T Nanda Kumar, secretary general of the IJSG, the successor to the now-defunct International Jute Organisation, said that the organisation has been making an endeavour to produce paper pulp, geo-textile and reinforced plastics from jute.

"The overall scenario is that while the market of jute has not improved significantly, it has also not lost too much its share either," he observed.

Nanda Kumar said the project titled 'Small Scale Entrepreneurship Development in Diversified Jute products' has been delayed because of non-receipt of clearance from the governments concerned.

"We need to consolidate and expand the existing markets and open up new ones particularly for diversified jute products."

The agenda of the two-day IJSG session, being held at its secretariat, included assessment of the world jute situation and related matters, a strategy for the jute sector, jute market development and related matters, agreement between the IJSG and the FAO, and presentation of country papers on jute trade information and statistics.

The IJSG has four permanent members -- Bangladesh, India, Switzerland and the European Community -- and 39 associate members worldwide.

The Philippines, Russia, Thailand, China and UK-based jute goods associations are taking part in the session as observers.