Minister turns down jute request
07/12/2009
Producers of clothing and other goods made from jute in Bangladesh have failed in an attempt to prevent their suppliers from exporting the fibre in its raw format to manufacturers in China, India and Pakistan.
Raw jute exports from Bangladesh grew by more than 25% in the first quarter of the current financial year, reaching $36 million. But exporters of goods manufactured from the fibre, which reach wealthy consumer markets in Europe and North America, brought in more than $85 million over the same period.
Manufacturers complained to the government about lack of supply and increasing prices of raw jute and called on the authorities to prevent the raw fibre from leaving Bangladesh.
The director general of the government department that controls jute, Mahmudul Haq Bhuiyan, said that he could not justify placing raw jute exports under restriction during current economic conditions. He suggested that the jute mill owners should procure raw jute in advance.
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