Jute products turned heads at a seven-day-long fair as exhibitors showcased products of various designs and colours to lure people. The Jute Diversification Promotion Centre (JDPC), an autonomous government body responsible for the promotion and diversification of jute use in the country, has organised the fair at Karim Chamber at Motijheel. At the fair, manufacturers and exporters are displaying around 280 types of jute products in both traditional and unconventional forms. The products include bags, purses, folders, tablemats, prayer mats, doormats, rugs and room dividers. The impressive footfall at the fair has brought smiles to the faces of the vendors. They said they expected buoyant sales this year. The organisers said that the JDPC has so far readied around 702 entrepreneurs in jute diversification. These entrepreneurs are producing around 280 types of different diversified jute goods, which are being exported to 118 countries around the world. Jermatz Limited has been meeting the local demand for jute products since 2015. Its managing director, Ismat Jerin Khan, told The Independent that the company were displaying around 30 diversified jute products like jute shopping bags, promotional bags, baskets, laptop bags, table covers, cushion covers, canvas tote bags and home decor products at the fair. “We have brought a different type of basket, made of reed and jute, at this fair. We have also brought 15 types of baskets, 12 types of floor mats, three types of table plate mats—all made of jute,” she said. She also said discounts were being offered at the fair on different jute products. However, they would be made available only to those buyers who are willing to place an order. Product prices range from Tk. 100 to Tk. 3,000, she added. “We have already talked to buyers from the Maldives and Turkey and received positive response from both,” she said. When asked whether they export their products, Ismat Jerin Khan said: “We export jute products to countries like Germany and Austria.” Describing some challenges, Ismat Jerin Khan pointed out that jute yarn was spun and prepared for use in weaving, knitting, and manufacturing sewing threads. “This material is not adequately available in our country,” she noted. “We don’t have adequate design labs for producing innovative colours of jute products to suit the buyer’s demands,” she added. “The local market of jute and jute products is small. We will have to enlarge the local market of jute products,” said another exhibitor. JDPC executive director Rina Parvin told The Independent: “Around 35-40 entrepreneurs have participated in the fair. Our exhibitors received a large number of spot orders. From next year, the fair will be held permanently at Karim Chamber in Motijheel,” Rezaul Karim, vice-president of the Bangladesh Jute Goods Exporters’ Association, told The Independent that the demand for jute products was growing worldwide. More and more people are relinquishing the use of polythene and moving towards eco-friendly products, he said.
