Director of the South-South and Triangular Cooperation Division at the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) headquarters, Anping Ye, on Wednesday held a meeting with Commerce Adviser Sheikh Bashiruddin at his office in the Secretariat.

During the meeting, they discussed FAO’s ongoing operations in Bangladesh, along with strategies for enhancing seed production, diversifying markets for jute products, and building capacity in the sector.

The commerce adviser said Bangladesh has a deep cultural, historical, and economic connection with jute and jute goods.

Jute, the golden fibre, was once the backbone of our economy, and even today it holds significant importance, Bangladesh aims to reclaim the golden past of jute and position itself as a global hub for eco-friendly products, he added.

Consumer rights severely eroded in previous 15 years: Commerce Adviser

The adviser also said to achieve this, coordinated efforts in research, investment, and marketing from both public and private sectors are essential. FAO’s support can play a vital role in accelerating this process.

In response, FAO Director Anping Ye said Bangladesh is a key country for jute products, and FAO is interested in helping expand the global market for Bangladeshi jute.

He noted that FAO has already set up an office in the country to support agricultural development, employing over 200 personnel — most of them local. He assured FAO’s cooperation in enhancing capacity for jute production and market expansion.

Textiles and Jute Secretary Md Abdur Rouf and FAO Representative in Bangladesh Xiaojun Shi  were also present at the meeting.