Shamima Binte Tanha, a government employee cannot believe herself, whether she is visiting a textile exposition or an exhibition on jute diversified goods.
This happened when she touched a Saree made of jute and displayed at a two-day Diversified Jute Products Fair on National Jute Day 2019 and the held at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) on March 6.
Not only Shamima but also everyone who visited the exhibition became puzzled after seeing the variety of jute diversified goods for clothing, ornament and home decoration.
I never thought of seeing such beautiful and quality Sarees and three pieces made of jute, Shamima Binte Tanha told the reporter, while buying goods from the expo.
In addition, household decorative goods were very attractive to me, she added.
Since the goods made of jute is very decorative in beautifying the home, I always choose it for my home decoration, Jamal Uddin, a banker told the Textile Today.
On top of that, the goods of jute are biodegradable and environment-friendly. As a conscious woman my preference is diversified jute goods for all aspects, he added.
In the exposition, exhibitors were very happy as they received a good response from the buyers especially from home.
In the given status of the sector, it is very clear that jute diversified products come up with hope in restoring the glory of jute once known as the golden fiber of Bangladesh, opined the sector people while sharing views with the Textile Today.
Industry people gave credit to the government’s initiatives, which is paving the ways to retrieve the sectors glory. As of last year, sales of diversified jute goods stood at about Tk7 billion in the home and abroad market.
jute bags (ladies, school, executive, laptop), purses, bed sheet, sofa cover, blankets, curtain, floor mat, sweater, blazers, gents and ladies shoes, Sarees, Ornaments and ornament boxes ladies three pieces and home décor items.
“For the last couple of years, sales of diversified jute goods picked up and we are witnessing 15% to 20% yearly growth,” Iman Hossain, Director of Ifty Craft told the Textile Today.
If the government provides more policy support in reaching out the global buyers, we will be able to export goods worth billion dollars as the demands of jute diversified goods are increasing very fast in the global markets, said Iman.
If the government provides more policy support in reaching out the global buyers, we will be able to export goods worth billion dollars as the demands of jute diversified goods are increasing very fast in the global markets.
However, there are challenges to attain the target and connect buyers.
Meanwhile, several exhibitors, who took part, shared their sorrows of not getting international buyers, while they are in crying needs for government steps and financial subsidy in participating the expo in abroad.
“Bangladeshi manufacturer’s jute-diversified goods have a wide range of products lists with a reasonable price offering to the global market. While there are huge demands of it in the global market. But the problem is finding a foreign buyer,” Mohammad Ali Khan of Hand Touch told the Textile Today.
It costs Tk7-8 lakh to participate in the expo in EU and America or Japan. It is very difficult to join for a small entrepreneur, said Ali.
Though the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) is helping but it is too insufficient, he claimed.
In tapping the opportunity of the export market, Ali urged the government in providing financial support to explore the market and customers.
“In taking the advantage of global demands of jute-diversified goods, Bangladesh has to concentrate on research to learn about the products line, potential markets,” said Rashedul, Managing Director of Creation Jute Limited.
In addition, financial support for exploring markets as the number of entrepreneurs and market size has increased but the incentives remained same, said Rashedul Karim Munna, Secretary General of Bangladesh Jute Diversified Product Manufactures and Exporter Association (BJDPMEA) told the Textile Today.
And my suggestion is on creating a network between buyers and makers and creating branding to the globe, he added.
On top of that, experts called for creating opportunity in the domestic ground to showcase goods to attract global buyers.
“It is not possible for a small maker to join an expo in a foreign country. So, arranging exposition in the domestic grown can enable them to showcase,” former Caretaker Government Advisor AB Mirza Azizul Islam told the Textile Today.
On top of that, the government should rethink about the incentives and create more opportunity for the emerging sector as it would reduce dependency on a single sector, said Islam.
He also suggested to ensuring more participation of entrepreneurs in the foreign expo and to this end subsidy can be a solution.
According to Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) data, in July- February of the current fiscal year, Bangladesh earned $560.56 million exporting jute and jute goods, down by 24.36%, which was $711.23 million in the same period a year ago.
Of which Jute good earned 86.85 million, jute yarn and twine $341.25 million and jute sack, bags fetched $62.64 million and other goods $70 million.
According to Jute Diversification Promotion Center (JDPC), there are 232 items of diversified jute goods including jute bags (ladies, school, executive, laptop), purses, bed sheet, sofa cover, blankets, curtain, floor mat, sweater, blazers, gents and ladies shoes, Sarees, Ornaments and ornament boxes ladies three pieces and home decor items.
