Eleventh Session of the Council of the IJSG to be held in Dhaka on 2-3 May 2010

The two day long Eleventh Session of the Council of the International Jute Study Group (IJSG) will be held at its Secretariat in Dhaka during 2-3 May 2010.

The Session is expected to be inaugurated by Dr. Sutanu Behuria, Additional Secretary and Financial Adviser, Ministry of Textiles, Govt. of India & Chairman of the Council of the IJSG. All Members of IJSG - Bangladesh, India, Switzerland, and European Community (EC) will be attending the Session. EC will be representing its 27 Member States. This meeting is also open to all Associate Members and Observers of IJSG. 

Provisional Agenda

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Workshop on Jute Based Composite Material (JUTIN) to be held at IJSG

Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission (BAEC) has carried out research works on developing Jute-Plastic composites to make available sustainable light-weight stronger material using jute. The research group under the supervision of Dr. Mubarak Ahmed Khan, Chief Scientific Officer, Radiation and Polymer Chemistry Laboratory of BAEC has been able to develop green composites based on jute fabric. The product has been named as “JUTIN”, a corrugated sheet made of jute Hessian cloth and formulated solution of polymer materials, which can be used as an alternative to the available metal based corrugated sheets. Bearing in mind the importance of the developed technology and its impact on the jute sector the IJSG Secretariat, under the auspices of the Private Sector Consultative Board (PSCB) of the IJSG, has taken initiative to hold a Workshop on 15 March 2010 at its Conference room to disseminate the technology to the prospective entrepreneurs for commercial uptake.  H.E. Dr. Stefan Frowein, the Ambassador of the Delegation of the European Union to Bangladesh will be present as the Chief Guest.

Representatives from Bangladesh Plastic Goods Manufacturers and Exporters Association, Bureau of Disaster Management, BUET, BJA, BJMA, BJMC, BJSA, BJRI, BAEC, JDPC etc. are likely to attend the workshop.

Programme

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Secretary of Ministry of Textiles and Jute, Government of Bangladesh meets IJSG Secretary General

Mr. Md. Ashraful Moqbul, Secretary of the Ministry of Textiles and Jute, Government of Bangladesh met Mr. Sudripta Roy, the Secretary General of the International Jute Study Group (IJSG) at his office on 9 March 2010.  They discussed issues related to various aspects of the world jute economy, market promotion, exchange of information, active participation of the private sector in the development of the jute sector as well as the membership issue of the Group.

The IJSG Secretary General shared the experience with the Secretary of his recent visit to Syria and Jordan. While talking to the Jordanian Traders, he noticed that there are some obstacles as regards trading of jute products between Bangladesh and Jordan which may be solved through discussion by both the countries. The issue of renegotiation of the IJSG according to the Agreement establishing the ToR of the International Jute Study Group, 2001 also came up during the talk as a key challenge for the future of the jute sector. 

Mr. Md. Faruque Hossain, Finance and Administrative Officer and Mr. Dewan Sayeedul Hassan, Media and Information Officer of the IJSG were present during the discussion.

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International Symposium on Renewable Feedstock for Biofuel and Bio-based Products to be held in Austin, USA on 11-13 August 2010

 CCG International Inc is going to organize an International Symposium on Renewable Feedstock for Biofuel and Bio-based Products - the roles of non-food fiber crops: kenaf, jute, hemp, flax, and allied in collaboration with the School of Human Ecology in The University of Texas at Austin and Supported by the Center for Biorefining, University of Minnesota on 11-13 August 2010. 

The Symposium will focus on non-food feedstock which has high biomass productivity, less production inputs, and no competition with food crops, including but not limited to kenaf, jute, hemp, flax, ramie, switch grass, willow, crop residues, wood chips, etc. 

The symposium would cover the following topics:

·               Applications of plant fibers in textile, paper pulp, biofuel, auto-mobile, construction, packaging, animal feed and environmental cleaning, etc.

·              New technologies for converting bast fibers into value-added products, such as processing techniques, pretreatments for fiber extraction, evaluation tools for fiber quality, and improved pro-duction technologies

·               Production and supply of feedstock for biofuels and bio-based products, including cultivation practice, harvesting and process-ing, mechanization, storage, new variety,, and biotechnology

·               Marketing, supply chain, and quality control of fibers

·               Networking with producers, end users, experts, business devel-opers, investors, governmental officials, and international agen-cies from around the world

·               Exploring investment opportunities, international collaborations, and new project development.

·               Promoting environmentally friendly products and policy and improve regional economy through poverty alleviation

An exhibition of products and services will also be arranged in the symposium.

It is expected that the Symposium would bring together researchers, producers, end users, business developers, investors, and policy makers from around the world to explore the values of non-food fiber crops in contributing a better environment and the bioeconomy.

Interested persons may contact at info@ccgconsultinginc.com for any question or inquiry.

Seminar on Jute Production, Industry, Marketing and Farmers’ Interaction held in West Bengal

A Seminar on Jute Production, Industry, Marketing and Farmers’ Interaction and 9th Annual Group Meeting of All India Network Project on Jute & Allied Fibres was held at Central Research Institute for Jute & Allied Fibres (CRIJAF), Barrackpore, West Bengal on 5-6 February 2010.

West Bengal Agricultural Minister Mr. Naren Dey addressed in the inaugural function.

Mr. Sudripta Roy the Secretary General of the International Jute Study Group (IJSG) attended the programme and spoke on the possibilities of co-operation between IJSG and ICAR (Indian Council for Agriculture Research). He also presented a paper on “Global Perspective on Jute”.

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IJSG Secretary General meets the Head of Delegation of EU to Bangladesh on 24 January 2010

Mr. Sudripta Roy, Secretary General of the International Jute Study Group (IJSG) met His Excellency Dr. Stefan Frowein, the Ambassador and Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Bangladesh on 24 January 2010 at his office to have a discussion on jute based composite material (JUTIN) developed by Dr. Mubarak Ahmad Khan of the Banglaesh Atomic Energy Commission (BAEC).

Dr. Frowein welcomed the Secretary General and thanked for making himself available along with other officers of IJSG. He spoke on the importance of diversified uses of jute and added that the technology to produce jute based composite material (JUTIN) developed by Dr. Mubarak Ahmad Khan may be useful for the poor people of Bangladesh especially the people affected by cyclone or other natural calamities.  He remarked that it has appeared to him that the technology has potential and building materials could be made with this technology and used by the people. Dr. Frowein opined that people may be extremely benefited and he would be happy if this could be commercialized and made easily available to common people.

Mr. Sudripta Roy thanked HE the Ambassador of the EU for inviting him to have a discussion on the issue. He informed him of a project on Jute Reinforced Polyolefines implemented by the IJSG through AFSG of the Netherlands. He remarked that IJSG can take initiative to carry it forward and suggested that IJSG could organize a workshop in Dhaka and Kolkata to disseminate the technology to the entrepreneurs, plastic manufacturers and NGO’s so that interested entrepreneurs/persons may go for commercialization of the technology. In this context he opined that a market survey to assess the actual potential may be necessary to convince the entrepreneurs. It was discussed that the proposed workshop could be held in mid March in Dhaka.

Mr. Andrew Barnard, First Secretary (Political & Economic), Delegation of the European Union to Bangladesh; Mr. Faruque Hosain, Finance and Administrative Officer, IJSG; Mr. Md. Siddiqur Rahman, Consultant (Operations), IJSG and Dr. Mubarak Ahmad Khan, BAEC were present in the meeting.

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IJSG Secretary General meets the Hon’ble Minister for agriculture and cooperatives and senior government officials of Nepal

The IJSG Secretary General Mr. Sudripta Roy called on Mr. Mrigendra Kumar Singh Yadav, the Hon’ble Minister for Agriculture and Cooperatives, Government of Nepal at his office on 13 January 2010. He discussed the issue of Nepal’s Membership to IJSG and briefed the Hon’ble Minister on the importance of Nepal’s Membership vis-à-vis mutual benefit. He outlined the possible impact on the Jute Sector of Nepal in the field of Agriculture, Industry and Trade deriving out of implementation of various IJSG projects involving Nepal. The Hon’ble Minister was convinced about the proposal and assured to take positive steps in this regard even having a dialogue with the Prime Minister of Nepal if it so necessitates. Mr. Roy also met Dr. Braja Kishore P. Shaha, Secretary and Mr. Fulgen Pradhan, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Government of Nepal on the same day. He discussed the issue of Nepal’s Membership to IJSG with them. Dr. Shaha was found to be positive and assured that he would process the matter and take necessary steps.  

Earlier the IJSG Secretary General called on Dr. Madan Kumar Bhattarai, the Foreign Secretary, Government of Nepal on 12 January 2010. The Secretary General discussed the issue of Nepal’s Membership to IJSG with Dr. Madan and briefed him about various attempts made by the IJSG in the past. Mr. Roy also briefed him about possible waiver of Membership fee.  Dr. Madan assured the Secretary General that he would discuss the issue with his colleagues and take necessary steps.

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EUROJUTE becomes Associate Member of IJSG

European Association for the Trade in Jute and Related Products (EUROJUTE) has become the 108th Associate Member of the International Jute Study Group (IJSG) recently.

The EUROJUTE Secretary General Mr. Laurens van der Ziel informed the IJSG Secretariat that the Board of Eurojute is of the opinion that the IJSG is of the utmost importance for the entire jute sector, including the international trade. EUROJUTE remarked that IJSG is very inventive in developing and promoting jute all kinds of jute products. The Association added that the way IJSG manifested itself during the Conference of the Common Fund for Commodities last December 2009 in The Hague, the Board of Eurojute unreservedly took the decision to work with the IJSG in the interest of all parties in the jute sector.

It may be mentioned that EUROJUTE represents an important part of the European importers of Jute and related products. EUROJUTE services include: Contact and lobbying at appropriate organisations, information about new developments in trade, general sales conditions, standard buying contracts for jute, arbitration system and general meetings of members of the Association twice a year. Currently EUROJUTE has members in Belgium, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, The Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.

To know more about EUROJUTE visit:  http://www.eurojute.org

Faruque Hossain attended the Natural Fibres Steering Committee Meeting in Frankfurt

Finance and Administrative Officer of the International Jute Study Group (IJSG)     Mr. Md. Faruque Hossain, attended the natural fibres steering committee meeting held in Frankfurt at the room Consens of Exhibition Centre of Messe Frankfurt, Germany on 13 January 2010. The meeting reviewed overall activities throughout the year 2009 in observing the International Year of Natural Fibres - IYNF 2009 and achievement there of. The meeting appreciated the role of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in organizing and coordinating the observance of the year even though it experienced a lot of constraints in terms of financial and human resources. The members of the steering committee acclaimed the strength of and keenness towards natural fibres and sincerity shown by Mr. Brian Moir and Mr. Adam Prakash of FAO while carrying out the activity of the observance of IYNF 2009.The meeting decided to write a letter of appreciation to the Director General of FAO for its support and placing the proposal of observance of IYNF to the UNGA.

The meeting also decided to make a request to the FAO to maintain IYNF website with calendar events and allow using the Logo of the IYNF (erasing 2009) in future activities of the natural fibres platform. In this context the meeting decided to call the forum as “Discover Natural Fibres Initiatives” to continue the activities. The meeting further decided to meet at any convenient time in Rome so that FAO could involve in the meeting easily.

The meeting was presided over by Mr. Henrik Kuffner, Director General, International Wool Textile Organization, Belgium. Among others, Mr. Allen A. Terhaar, Executive Director, Cotton Council International, USA, Dr. Elke Hortmeyer, Economic Research, Publications, Communications, BREMEN COTTON EXCHANGE, Germany, Dr. Christian Schindler, Director General, International Textile Manufacturers Federation, Switzerland, Marcello Hinxman-Allegri, Business Development Manager-Europe – Textiles & Creative Sectors, New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, Ms Edelgard Baumann Dipl-Ing, International Marketing Manager, Cotton Council International USA, Dr. Klaus-Jürgen Kraatz, Industrieverband,Garne - Gewebe - Technische Textilien e.V. Germany and Mr. Peter Clasen, Eurojute Board Member also attended the meeting.

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PSCB meeting to review its activities held in Kathmandu

A review meeting of the activities of the Private Sector Consultative Board (PSCB) was held at the Hotel Del Annapurna in Kathmandu, Nepal on 12 January 2010.

Chaired by Mr. D. C. Baheti, Chairman, PSCB the meeting reviewed the progress of the activities like Associate Membership, Seminar on Technologies Developed by IJIRA & SITRA, Training on Production and Application of Enzyme, Training of Mill Workers and Supervisors, Jute Geo-textiles, Disposal Protocol, Tariff and Non-Tariff Barriers, Increasing Cooperation with Buyers’/Consumers’ and INDICON Projects.

Among others, Mr. Raj Kumar Golchha (Nepal), Vice-Chairman of PSCB, Mr. Sudripta Roy, Secretary General of the International Jute Study Group (IJSG), Mr. Md. Siddiqur Rahman, Secretary, PSCB , Mr. Santosh Rijal, Director, Swastik Jute Mills (P) Ltd. and Mr. Prakash Mundara, Director, Baba Jute Mills (Pvt.) Ltd., Nepal attended the meeting.

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