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IJSG credits to implement 35 projects of $ 18m

. Business Report
International Jute Study Group (IJSG) since its inception has implemented 35 projects worth $ 18 million in last 10 years. Of the total various jute development projects, 24 were implemented in Bangladesh with an amount of $ 12.34 million that trained 3,700 farmers, 2,000 craftsman and 1,500 small entrepreneurs.
About 7,700 jute farmers, 3,550 artisans and 200 technical personnel have received skill development training, 3,000 have been motivated to start or expansion business, 1600 small entrepreneurs and three raw material banks and three entrepreneur service centers have been developed under these projects, the meet informed.
This was revealed at a 'Press Meet' organized by IJSG on Sunday to mark its one decade journey as an international and Resource Centre for all matters connected with jute, kenaf and allied natural fibres at it6s office in the capital.
IJSG Secretary General Bhupendra Singh, Private Sector Consultative Board Chairman Rezaul Karim, Operations Officer Dr Latifa Binte Lutfar, Secretary Rajib Jones Mitra and Senior Project Assistant Muhammad Abul Hossain spoke on the occasion.
Sing said the IJSG has been an unique international commodity body in terms of having 'poverty alleviation' as one of its objectives. Most of the IJSG projects and activities are aimed at poverty reduction and creating employment opportunity in the jute sector.
He marked diversified jute products like shopping bag, food grade jute bags, jute composite, jute geotrextiles jute pulp paper are the future growth area of jute sector.
Lauded the Bangladesh success in decoding jute genome, Singh said it's a big achievement of the country and it would open a big door of opportunity to expand jute sector around the world.
In replying to a query about the implementation of jute packaging act in the country, Singh said he is not in favour on making jute compulsory for packaging as it can be hinder growth of producing value added jute products.
He also suggested that Bangladesh government should take policy intervention in patronizing jute pulp paper for checking environment degradation as it reduces deforestation.