The government on Tuesday expressed its firm commitment to working together to transform the jute sector into a modern industry, ensure fair prices for farmers, and establish Bangladesh as a trusted global source of climate-friendly jute-based solutions.

To achieve these goals, a coordination meeting titled “Strategic Economic Diplomacy and Export Expansion for Bangladesh’s Jute Sector” was jointly organised in Dhaka by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Textiles and Jute.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam and State Minister for Textiles and Jute Md Shariful Alam announced the formation of a joint working group between the two ministries and the organisation of an ‘International Jute Expo’ in the near future with a renewed global outlook.

Secretaries of both ministries, senior government officials, and representatives from the Department of Jute, the jute industry, research institutions, and development partner organisations attended the meeting.

The State Minister for Foreign Affairs reaffirmed the government's commitment to revitalising the jute sector and underscored the importance of organising Jute and Jute Products Exhibitions to restore the glory of the country's "golden fibre."

She placed particular emphasis on leveraging economic diplomacy, with the active support of Bangladesh missions abroad, to promote the development of the jute industry.

The State Minister for Textiles and Jute expressed appreciation to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for taking this important initiative and highlighted the need for close coordination between the two ministries and the private sector to enhance jute production, processing, value addition, and market diversification.

The meeting decided that the proposed joint working group would formulate a national roadmap for jute exhibitions, address trade barriers affecting the jute industry, facilitate the establishment of dedicated research centres for jute, promote the adoption of modern technologies across the sector, and monitor the progress of mill modernisation initiatives.

It was also decided that the proposed International Jute Expo would bring together domestic and international buyers, researchers, and investors to strengthen Bangladesh's engagement with global markets.

The meeting also discussed the establishment of mandatory jute display centres and gift shops at Bangladesh's international airports, the expedited implementation of a project to introduce jute-made school bags for primary school students, and achieving full self-sufficiency in jute seed production within the next three years by reducing import dependence through increased domestic production.