Govt planning to reopen closed jute mills
Sunday, 19 April 2009
FE Report
Jute and Textiles Minister Latif Siddiqui said Saturday the government is planning to reopen closed state-owned jute mills to make the sector a vibrant in the wake of growing demand for the natural fibre.
He was addressing a roundtable organised by the Naya Orthoniti, a vernacular newspaper to be published soon in collaboration with Bangladesh Jute Association, Bangladesh Jute Spinners Association, Bangladesh Jute Mills Association at a city auditorium.
"We are planning to reopen closed jute mills which have potentials," Mr Latif added.
The minister said the government is also planning to provide support to the closed jute mills under private management for reopening as the demand for jute and jute goods are on the rise.
Mr Latif said the existing problems in the jute sector will be resolved within next one or two years.
"I have taken the charge of the ministry as a challenge, I do hope that the problems will be solved within one or two years and the sector will be a vibrant one in the country, regaining its glorious past," Mr Latif added.
The jute minister said the government will announce a jute commission to be headed by Dr Kholiquzzaman Ahmad within next seven days.
He said the commission will analyse the economic issues relating to public and private jute mills and the issues will be placed before the government for taking necessary steps.
Mr Latif said the crisis of jute seeds will also be resolved adding: "We will ensure quality seeds for farmers during the upcoming season."
Zahiduzzaman Faruk, editor of the Naya Orthoniti, was the moderator in the roundtable.
Secretary to the Jute and Textile Ministry Abdul Hoque, BJMC chairman TD Mitra, noted economist Zaidi Sattar and senior jute entrepreneur Shamsul Hoque, among others, spoke in the roundtable.
The BJMC chairman said the state-owned jute mills are in dire need of fund as delay in allocation of the money is one of reasons behind loss-making of the state-owned jute mills.
He said the state-owned jute mills have been facing acute manpower shortage adding: "We have even recruited general managers at some factories, who are either physicians or players."
Mr Mitra said many jute suppliers are not interested to supply jute to the BJMC due to non-payment of their bills worth Tk 1.38 billion since 2002.
Speaking in the programme, Mr Zaidi Sattar said the sector needs a policy to face the upcoming challenges and tap the potentials.
He also said: "Public-private partnership is extremely felt to promote the sector."
Mr Shamsul Hoque said there is a need for strong commitment at the highest level of the government to make the sector competitive and vibrant.
He also said the government should encourage higher studies on jute.
"We really need a jute institute to teach new generations on the jute as we have been facing shortage of skilled manpower for long," he added.
Jute and Textiles Minister Latif Siddiqui said Saturday the government is planning to reopen closed state-owned jute mills to make the sector a vibrant in the wake of growing demand for the natural fibre.
He was addressing a roundtable organised by the Naya Orthoniti, a vernacular newspaper to be published soon in collaboration with Bangladesh Jute Association, Bangladesh Jute Spinners Association, Bangladesh Jute Mills Association at a city auditorium.
"We are planning to reopen closed jute mills which have potentials," Mr Latif added.
The minister said the government is also planning to provide support to the closed jute mills under private management for reopening as the demand for jute and jute goods are on the rise.
Mr Latif said the existing problems in the jute sector will be resolved within next one or two years.
"I have taken the charge of the ministry as a challenge, I do hope that the problems will be solved within one or two years and the sector will be a vibrant one in the country, regaining its glorious past," Mr Latif added.
The jute minister said the government will announce a jute commission to be headed by Dr Kholiquzzaman Ahmad within next seven days.
He said the commission will analyse the economic issues relating to public and private jute mills and the issues will be placed before the government for taking necessary steps.
Mr Latif said the crisis of jute seeds will also be resolved adding: "We will ensure quality seeds for farmers during the upcoming season."
Zahiduzzaman Faruk, editor of the Naya Orthoniti, was the moderator in the roundtable.
Secretary to the Jute and Textile Ministry Abdul Hoque, BJMC chairman TD Mitra, noted economist Zaidi Sattar and senior jute entrepreneur Shamsul Hoque, among others, spoke in the roundtable.
The BJMC chairman said the state-owned jute mills are in dire need of fund as delay in allocation of the money is one of reasons behind loss-making of the state-owned jute mills.
He said the state-owned jute mills have been facing acute manpower shortage adding: "We have even recruited general managers at some factories, who are either physicians or players."
Mr Mitra said many jute suppliers are not interested to supply jute to the BJMC due to non-payment of their bills worth Tk 1.38 billion since 2002.
Speaking in the programme, Mr Zaidi Sattar said the sector needs a policy to face the upcoming challenges and tap the potentials.
He also said: "Public-private partnership is extremely felt to promote the sector."
Mr Shamsul Hoque said there is a need for strong commitment at the highest level of the government to make the sector competitive and vibrant.
He also said the government should encourage higher studies on jute.
"We really need a jute institute to teach new generations on the jute as we have been facing shortage of skilled manpower for long," he added.