Dhaka, Apr 24 (BDNEWS) – The two-day session of the seventh meeting of the International Jute Study Group (IJSG) began in Dhaka Monday to prepare a new roadmap for jute market development through formulating appropriate strategies.
Inaugurating the session, Textile and Jute Minister Shajahan Siraj said, large-scale use of jute in producing high value added diversified products could open up a new horizon for jute sector. Diversification involves a major change both in terms of technology and design, and also in terms of marketing, he said.
Secretary General of IJSG Sarwar Kamal also spoke at the opening session with chairman of council Jean Romnician in the chair.
Bangladesh, India, Switzerland and 25 member states of European Community, who are the members of IJSG established in 2002, attending the meeting. Russia, Nepal, the Philippine, Myanmar and Morocco are also taking part in the meeting as observers.
Siraj referred to completion of IJSG's project on making paper pulp from green jute and kenaf through biotechnological application of enzymes and said, "Bangladesh government has formed a taskforce to investigate the possibility of utilization of these technologies developed under this project."
He mentioned the 'Small Scale Entrepreneurship Development in the diversified Jute Product,' an on-going project of IJSG, and said the two private projects will be taken in June next in Bangladesh and India.
Jean Romnician raises some questions on the on-going projects, especially on the administrative cost and technical study, and said IJSG has not completed the study of some projects.
Sarwar Kamal said if IJSG has to play a catalytic role, it needs more strength in terms of its member as well as resources.
"To take advantage of the new opening of the market, appropriate promotional efforts are needed in the areas of research and market development," Kamal added.
IJSG, an intergovernmental body, is implementing jute reinforced polyolefines for industrial applications which will facilitate production of composite materials for various uses like cloth hangers, crates, buckets, furniture, automobile panels etc.
After the fourth session of the council, IJSG implements projects worth US $25000 a year.
BDNEWS/1505 hrs
