Mr. Sheikh Bashir Uddin, Adviser for Commerce, held a meeting with Mr. Anping Ye, Director of the South-South and Triangular Cooperation Division at the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations.
The meeting took place on Wednesday, 23 July 2025, in the office of the Commerce Adviser at the Bangladesh Secretariat.
During the meeting, they discussed various aspects of FAO’s operations in Bangladesh, including seed production, diversification of jute product markets, and strategies to enhance capacity in these areas.
Adviser Sheikh Bashir Uddin highlighted that jute and jute products are deeply linked with the culture, history, heritage, and economy of Bangladesh. Once known as the “Golden Fibre,” jute played a vital role in driving the national economy and continues to hold significant importance.
“Our goal is to revive the golden past of jute and establish Bangladesh as a global hub for eco-friendly products,” he said. “This will require integrated efforts in research, investment, and marketing from both the government and private sectors. FAO’s cooperation can play a vital role in accelerating this endeavor,” he added.
Mr. Anping Ye stated that Bangladesh is an important country for jute production. He expressed FAO’s interest in supporting the expansion of jute product markets and mentioned that FAO has established an office in Bangladesh with over 200 personnel, most of whom are local experts. He also assured support for enhancing capacity in jute production and market development.
Also present at the meeting were Mr. Md. Abdur Rouf, Secretary of the Ministry of Textiles and Jute, and Mr. Xiaokun Shi, FAO Representative in Bangladesh.
