The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has emerged as a potential market for Bangladeshi jute goods, as the Arab nation has planned to gradually phase out different plastic-made products, including bags, official sources said.
The Ministry of Textiles and Jute (MoTJ) gave a direction on Wednesday to its relevant departments along with jute millers and exporters to take necessary measures and tap the opportunities to export jute goods to the country.
The direction came following a letter - sent by the Bangladesh Embassy in Abu Dhabi to the Ministry of Commerce (MoC) in June - on the prospects of exporting Bangladeshi jute bags to the UAE.
The letter informed that the Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD) banned single-use plastic bags in the Emirates of Abu Dhabi from this June in line with its integrated single-use plastic policy.
Additionally, the EAD is also heading towards phasing out single-use styrofoam cups, plates and food containers by 2024.
Besides, the Emirates of Dubai introduced a charge for single-use plastic bags from this July with an aim of completely banning these bags in two years. Thus, the ban and restriction in these two Emirates would gradually end single-use plastic bags in the UAE in the near future.
The EAD and the Dubai Municipality also issued a comprehensive guideline and clarifications regarding the ban on plastic bags. They categorically mentioned that reusable bags, especially jute- and paper-made bags that have the least environmental impact, would be encouraged for the consumers.
This offers an opportunity for export of jute and related biodegradable products to the UAE, the Bangladesh embassy said in its letter.
It requested the MoC to explore such products that could be exported to the UAE as substitutes of the banned plastic products.
Abdul Barik Khan, secretary general of the Bangladesh Jute Mills Association (BJMA), said the demand for diversified jute goods would also increase along with jute bags in the gulf nation following the new moves.
"We have already started to communicate with the buyers in that market to promote our products. The BJMA members have been suggested to take preparations to bag the prospect."
He also sought the government's policy support in this regard.
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