Nepalese Ambassador to Bangladesh, Ghanashyam Bhandari, on Thursday urged the Bangladesh government to lift restrictions on raw jute exports to help meet Nepal’s industrial demand.
The ambassador made the request during a meeting with Commerce Adviser Sheikh Bashir Uddin at Bangladesh Secretariat, where both sides discussed avenues to strengthen bilateral trade.
Ambassador Bhandari highlighted that Nepal has 11 jute mills, many of which depend heavily on imports of raw jute from Bangladesh.
He noted that the recent suspension of raw jute exports from Bangladesh has disrupted Nepal’s jute production and urged the government to reconsider its policy.
In response, Commerce Adviser Sheikh Bashir Uddin explained that Bangladesh is currently prioritizing the export of value-added, semi-finished jute products, rather than raw jute.
He emphasized that Bangladeshi jute products are in high demand globally and that exporting semi-finished goods aligns with the country’s strategy to boost export earnings.
He added that Bangladesh is now producing high-quality, eco-friendly jute items and encouraged Nepal to consider importing these finished or semi-finished products for mutual economic benefit.
