State Minister for Textiles and Jute Md Shariful Alam on Friday said the government is working to revive the jute sector to create employment and support Bangladesh’s ambitious economic targets.
He made the remarks at a press briefing held at the Ministry of Textiles and Jute conference room on the eve of National Jute Day 2026, which is being observed under the theme “Build Jute Industry, Create Employment.”
The state minister said the government has taken initiatives to reopen closed jute mills through a strategic leasing process.
He said nine leased jute mills have already resumed operations, creating employment for 7,200 people and boosting national production.
Md Shariful Alam said exporting raw jute remains unprofitable, and the government is encouraging the export of processed jute products instead.
To support entrepreneurs, the government is offering targeted tax concessions for jute product exporters, he said.
He also highlighted the sector’s export performance, saying jute and jute-based products generated $418.69 million in export earnings by December of the current fiscal year, marking an increase compared with the same period last year.
The state minister said the jute industry, deeply linked with Bangladesh’s history and heritage, will play an important role in achieving the government’s target of building a $1 trillion economy by 2034.
The briefing was attended by Ministry of Textiles and Jute Secretary Bilkis Jahan Rimi and other senior officials.
As part of National Jute Day celebrations, a nine-day fair showcasing diversified jute products began at the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy premises in the capital.
