DHAKA, Aug 17, 2026 (BSS) - Commerce, Industries, Textiles and Jute Minister  Khandakar Abdul Muktadir today said coordinated efforts by industry, academia  and the government are essential for the development of Bangladesh's textile  and jute sectors. "There are opportunities to further improve Bangladesh's textile education,  research and technological capabilities through collaboration with  international educational institutions such as China's Zhejiang Sci-Tech  University," he said. The minister made the remarks while addressing a symposium organised by  Zhejiang Sci-Tech University at the Jute Diversification Promotion Centre  (JDPC) in the capital today as the chief guest. Khandakar Abdul Muktadir said the world economy is rapidly moving towards  technology-driven systems, and students, teachers and industry stakeholders  need to be connected with artificial intelligence, modern technologies and  digital management. "The government is taking necessary initiatives to help Bangladesh keep pace  with global technological changes," he said. The minister stressed the need to modernise the country's textile institutes  and vocational education system in line with the requirements of the modern  world. "To this end, initiatives will be taken to review the curricula of  Bangladesh's textile institutes and align them with China's modern textile  education system," he continued. He also said opportunities would be created for skills development through  training by experienced Chinese teachers and experts, as well as by sending  Bangladeshi faculty members to China for advanced training. The commerce minister said Bangladesh's readymade garment sector currently  earns around US$38-39 billion from exports. However, he noted that there is a  significant scope to earn more foreign currency from the same volume of  exports by producing high-value and value-added textile products. "Bangladesh's textile sector needs to move towards man-made fibres and value- added products," he said. Muktadir said the textile sector had played an important role in the economic  development of industrialised countries. Although many countries moved from  textiles to other sectors as their economies transformed, Bangladesh still  has considerable scope to further develop the textile industry. "China's experience and technology can be utilised to accelerate this  transformation in Bangladesh," he said. On the jute sector, Khandakar Abdul Muktadir said jute is an important  product deeply connected with Bangladesh's heritage and emotion. He stressed the need to raise jute productivity, develop new products and  produce high-value jute goods to take the sector to a new level. "Joint research initiatives with China can create opportunities to increase  jute productivity, introduce new technologies and develop value-added  products," he added. The minister said the potential of the jute sector could increase manifold if  raw jute is transformed into blended fibre, fabrics and other high-value  products instead of being exported or used primarily in raw form. He also said higher jute productivity would benefit farmers and encourage  them to cultivate more jute. The bilateral symposium titled "Costume, Culture, and Connection: A Bilateral  Symposium on Traditional Attire and Cultural Exchange" was organised by  Zhejiang Sci-Tech University at JDPC in Dhaka. The secretary of the Ministry of Textiles and Jute, Director General of the  Department of Textiles, representatives of Zhejiang Sci-Tech University and  the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Vice-Chancellor of BGMEA University  of Fashion and Technology, academics, researchers and entrepreneurs from the  textile and apparel industries attended the event.