The government will provide plots to the new entrepreneurs who are interested in diversified jute products in the country, said Industries Minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun on Wednesday.
He was speaking at the inaugural ceremony of a five-day exposition at jute goods display and sales centre in the city.
Jute Diversification Promotion Centre (JDPC) under the Ministry of Textile and Jute opened the diversified jute goods display and sales centre at Karim Chamber in Mothijheel Commercial Area with a view to displaying some 280 types of locally produced diversified jute goods permanently.
Minister for Textiles and Jute Golam Dastagir Gazi attended the event as the special guest. JDPC Executive Director Rina Parveen was also present and spoke.
Humayun said the local market of jute products is still small so new entrepreneurs should be created with the view to increasing production of diversified goods.
He assured that the government will provide plots to the new entrepreneurs of jute diversified products in different places including Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC)'s land.
Humayun said they have fixed the production target of Sonali bag (plastic substitute jute bag) 100,000 per day. So the jute made-bags will get a strong position within a short time in local market, he said.
He suggested keeping the prices of jute products affordable to attract consumers.
He stressed the needed for organising fairs round the year with the aim to help promote the eco-friendly products.
Citing an example, the minister said India consumes 80 per cent of its total production of jute.
Bangladesh also should give priority to increase local use of jute products.
Apart from jute fibres, jute sticks and leaves also are very important, he noted.
Bangladesh exported 2.50 tonnes of jute leaves to Germany last year. The government has set a target of exporting five tonnes of jute leaves this year, he added.
Mohammed Belayet Hossain, acting secretary of Ministry of Textiles and Jute said about 40 million people are engaged in jute sector in the country.
The quality of Bangladeshi jute is far better than that of neighbouring countries.
More attention should be given to use of quality seeds and technologies to improve quality of jute, he said.
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