DHAKA, Dec 15, 2023 (BSS) - State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam today urged international community to project jute as the 'fiber of the future' as part of the green growth strategy that world is pursuing.

"We wish to see jute featured as a core element of 'Branding Bangladesh' in the broader context of sustainable development, fair trade and climate action," he said.

The state minister was addressing a seminar titled 'Projecting Jute as the Fiber of the Future: Challenges and Potentials' held at Foreign Service academy in the capital.

Alam said diverse solutions like high-value activated charcoal to high-tech applications like geo-textiles can be derived from jute while Bangladesh would like to further disseminate the information.

Bangladesh, he said, has taken the initiative to get a Resolution on the use of jute and other natural fibers adopted by the UN General Assembly every two years.

"We would like to invite our friends and partners from around the world to join us in this initiative," he added.

The state minister said the foreign ministry stand ready to work together with all concerned stakeholders to run a strategic campaign on jute in the spirit of the UNGA Resolution.
 
He offered five suggestions - promote jute as an eco-friendly alternative to non-degradable materials, support free and fair trade in jute to back jute cultivators and entrepreneurs, invest in research and innovation, support efficient product design and development and spread words about jute as a possible lifestyle choice for youth around the world.

Alam recalled that jute had been very much part of Bangladesh's independence struggle while the golden fiber continued to remain the lead export item, providing a much-needed lifeline to international trade for the new-born nation.

Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen, pro-vice chancellor of BUET Professor Abdul Jabbar Khan and BGMEA president Faruq Hasan also spoke, among others.