Director of the South-South and Triangular Cooperation Division of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Anping Ye met with Commerce Adviser Sheikh Bashir Uddin on Wednesday to discuss cooperation on jute market diversification and capacity building.
The meeting took place at the Commerce Adviser’s office in the Bangladesh Secretariat in the afternoon, according to a press release by the Commerce Ministry.
They discussed FAO’s ongoing initiatives in Bangladesh, strategies for seed production, and ways to enhance the global reach and production capabilities of jute products.
Commerce Adviser Sheikh Bashir Uddin said jute has deep ties with Bangladesh’s culture, heritage and economy. Once the backbone of the country’s economy, the golden fibre still holds great significance, he noted.
“Our goal is to restore jute’s golden past and position Bangladesh as a global hub for eco-friendly products,” said the Adviser. He stressed the need for coordinated efforts in research, investment and marketing from both government and private sectors. He also expressed hope that FAO’s support would add momentum to these initiatives.
Anping Ye said Bangladesh is a key country in jute production and FAO is keen to assist in expanding the market for jute products. He noted that FAO has already established an office in Bangladesh for agricultural development and employs over 200 staff, most of whom are local. He assured FAO’s readiness to support capacity-building for enhancing jute production and exports.
Textiles and Jute Secretary Md Abdur Rouf and FAO Representative in Bangladesh Jiaokun Shi were also present at the meeting.