A high-powered government delegation will visit China later this month to strengthen bilateral cooperation for revitalising the country's jute sector, officials said.
To be led by state minister for textiles and jute Mirza Azam, the 15-member Bangladesh delegation is expected to discuss various issues including Chinese technical and financial assistance for Bangladesh's jute sector.
The planned visit of the team is a follow-up initiative following a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between Bangladesh and China during President Xi Zinping's visit to Dhaka for the country's jute sector development.
China has been providing technical and financial supports to Bangladesh for revitalising the jute sector.
Earlier, the Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation (BJMC) signed an agreement with a Chinese institution for modernisation of government jute mills in the country.
Under the agreement, the BJMC will take technical assistance of the China Textile Industrial Corporation for Foreign Economic and Technical Corporation (CTEXIC) for modernisation of 24 state-owned jute mills for producing diversified jute goods.
Under the Chinese project titled 'Balancing, Modernisation, Rehabilitation and Expansion (BMRE) of Public Sector Mills,' primarily three jute mills will be upgraded at an estimated cost of US$340 million under Chinese assistance.
The BJMC currently has 26 mills, which are 60 to 70 years old of which 24 mills, which are now in operation, are annually producing 2,08,642 metric ton jute goods from their original annual production capacity of 3,45,000 metric tones, according to the BJMC. The Bangladesh team will also include entrepreneurs from jute sector.
It will stay in China from October 26 to November 3. The team members will visit plants of viscose and manufacturing process of activated carbon/ charcoal in China, according to the ministry of textiles and jute.
The team members will get practical knowledge for improving the country's jute sector as it has a huge prospect to boost export, officials said.
Viscose- man-made natural fibre mainly from wood- has a wide range of demand for manufacturing fabric. But viscose made from jute is more flexible and comfortable compared with others.
Products made from jute viscose could ensure three to four times profits than products made by jute fibre.
There is a wide demand of viscose made from jute, according to industry insiders.
Jute 'activated charcoal', a new export item made out of jute sticks, has the potential to help the country attain its export target of US$ 60 billion by 2021 if the sector gets necessary policy supports from the government, according to the sector insiders.
Charcoal is scientifically known as 'Jute Stick Charcoal Dust Powder', also commonly known as 'jute stick carbon'.
Bangladesh started producing 'activated charcoal' since 2012. The country exported jute stick carbon to China and earned Tk 140 million in the fiscal year (FY) 2015-16. Bangladesh enjoys duty-free market access to China.
The volume of 'activated charcoal' export could be doubled to access the duty-free market facility offered by China. A small factory requires at least 100 tonnes of charcoal for producing products monthly. Per tonne of charcoal costs between US $ 800 and $ 900.
There are wide ranges of demand for charcoal in different countries. Bangladesh could also export the item to Japan, Turkey, the United States, Australia, Taiwan, Canada, Mexico and the Republic of Korea.
Products like face wash, dried ink of photocopier machine, water filtering, medicines to destroy poison and clean teeth are being made by activated charcoal, according to the industry insiders. At present, charcoal is produced in Jamalpur, Narayanganj, Rajshahi, Pabna, Rajbari and Faridpur districts.
The country produces 3.0 million tonnes of jute stick annually. Of these, if 50 per cent of jute sticks are properly used, then 2,50,000 tonnes of charcoal could be produced yearly, helping the country earn over Tk 20 billion through export.
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