Speakers at a workshop here have stressed for inspiring the private sector small-scale entrepreneurs in promoting jute-based hand-loom industries for enhancing production of eco-friendly diversified jute products. They put emphasis on providing assistance, including capital and latest technologies to the local entrepreneurs, for producing diversified jute products and marketing facilities also to create job opportunities for unemployed male and female youths to cut poverty. Debi Chowdhurani Polli Unnayan Kendra (DCPUK), an NGO, organised the ‘Lesson Learned Sharing Workshop’ on ‘SWITCH-Asia Promoting Sustainable Consumption and Production of Jute Diversified Products’ Project at Sadar upazila parishad hall room on Monday. The NGO has been implementing the project in four upazilas of Rangpur with assistance of CARE Bangladesh under financial cooperation of the European Union for promoting the jute-based handloom industries involving local entrepreneurs. Presided over by Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer Priyosindhu Talukder, the private sector and small scale local entrepreneurs and beneficiaries of the project from all four upazilas under the project area participated in the workshop. Team Leader of the Project and Director of DCPUK Abdus Samad delivered the welcome speech narrating the project activities, goals and objectives of the day-long workshop. Sadar Upazila Agriculture Officer of the Department of Agriculture Extension Afzal Hossain, Chandanpat Union Parishad Chairman Aminur Rahman and Saddyapuskurini Union Parishad Chairman Sohel Rana addressed the workshop as invited guests. The speakers said the project activities are aimed at reviving the past glory of the eco-friendly jute fibre through promoting the jute-based hand-loom industries to increase diversified use and meet local need-based demand of jute products. They stressed for providing necessary assistance to the local entrepreneurs, especially the unemployed young women and women entrepreneurs, in setting up of jute-based cottage and hand-loom ventures for expansion of local jute-based industries. They called upon the concerned authorities involved with implementation of the project for enhancing production of diversified jute products ensuring the best quality through reactivating and inspiring the local entrepreneurs to achieve the goals.
