Notwithstanding the ban on export of raw jute, which came into effect on November 2, 2015, Bangladesh has reportedly decided to export raw jute to Nepal.
According to Bangladesh Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed, in view of the request from jute mill owners in Nepal to help save their local industry, Bangladesh has decided to export raw jute to the Himalayan nation.
Bangladesh had imposed the ban on export of raw jute in view of the increased demand for raw jute in the country after the implementation of the Mandatory Jute Packaging Act 2010.
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However, the exports will be on a case-to-case basis and as per the demand from the businesses of Nepal, Ahmed said, while addressing a Nepalese business delegation which called upon the Bangladesh Commerce Minister at his secretariat in Dhaka recently.
“Twelve big jute mills that employ 20,000 workers in Nepal are about to suspend their production due to a lack of raw jute supplies from Bangladesh and India,” stated first Vice-President of the Chamber of Industries, Morang, Nepal, Mukesh Upadhayaya, adding, “The jute industry in Nepal is largely dependent on raw jute from Bangladesh and India.”
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Underlining the advantage of jute export for Bangladesh, Upadhayaya, who led the Nepalese delegation, reportedly maintained that ‘Bangladesh will also be benefitted if jute is supplied to Nepal, as many Bangladeshi spinners import jute yarn from Nepal to meet their domestic demand’.
