Low turnout at jute products fair, sellers blame lack of promotion
Featuring around 40 stalls with a variety of jute-made goods, the fair will run until 10 March
The five-day multipurpose jute products fair, being held at the Jute Diversification Promotion Centre (JDPC) in Monipuripara, Tejgaon, has seen a low turnout of visitors, with sellers attributing this to inadequate promotion.
Featuring around 40 stalls with a variety of jute-made goods, the fair will run until 10 March.
On Friday (7 March) afternoon, despite the weekend, sellers reported poor footfall.
Stalls set up temporarily in front of the JDPC building were decorated with a variety of jute products, but vendors were seen waiting idly for customers.
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Entrepreneurs voiced concerns over the lack of advertising.
Tahmidul Islam of Baeki Centre, which sells jute shoes and sandals, said, "There was not much promotion beforehand. There are no billboards at the corners of the capital. So many people do not know the fair is going on. There is no crowd even on Friday. Moreover, due to the small space, those who come by car do not have parking space."
The fair showcases a wide range of jute-based products, including home decor items, women's accessories such as necklaces, bangles, earrings, and purses, as well as showpieces, tissue boxes, toys, flower vases, wall mats, and photo frames.
Swarna Akhtar Tisa, who runs the Holy Crafts and Fashion stall, shared her disappointment, saying, "I have made sales of Tk200 so far today. Actually, promotion is our main purpose, but we are not seeing visitors whom we can tell about our products."
Mahedi Hasan, founder of Inspire Jutex, displayed multipurpose jute products, including shopping bags, laptop bags, seminar bags, school bags, and file folders, many of which are exported.
He noted that better collaboration with the ready-made garment (RMG) sector could boost the industry.
"The ready-made garment industry is very well known to us abroad. More than 80% of our export earnings come from the garment sector. They have good communication with foreign buyers, who sometimes place orders for jute bags and other jute products.
"But we are not able to take this opportunity due to a lack of communication with RMG representatives. Garment owners also do not know that we are making such good products. If the marketing officers of the garment sector came to the fair and saw our products, they could present them to foreign buyers. Promotion is needed for this too," he said.
Visitors also commented on the fair's limited reach. Abdul Bari, who came with his family, purchased a jute handbag for Tk400.
"Multi-purpose jute products are not readily available except in fairs. So I came to buy some home decor items. I like the selection, but the space is small. It would have been better in an open venue," he said.
In addition to low turnout, stall owners voiced concerns over high rent. Several small entrepreneurs criticised the Tk5,000 fee for a 7-by-7-foot stall for the five-day event.
Khaleda Sultana, founder of Jute Mart, said, "Fairs used to be held at China-Bangladesh Friendship Exhibition Centre and Krishibid Institution, and the stall rent there is the same. Since this is a government venue, the rent could have been lower. Small entrepreneurs could have been given free stalls here."
She also highlighted difficulties in sourcing quality raw materials.
"Small and medium entrepreneurs like us lack capital. The biggest problem is finding quality jute fibre and fabric. If we do not get good raw materials, our products won't meet export standards. Raw materials here are about 30% to 35% more expensive than in India.
"We are at a disadvantage from the start. How will we survive in business? How will we compete in exports?" she said, urging the government to ensure the availability of affordable, high-quality raw materials.
The fair was inaugurated on Thursday by Sheikh Bashir Uddin, adviser to the Ministry of Textiles and Jute and the Ministry of Commerce. Speaking at the opening ceremony, he acknowledged the declining trend in jute exports.
"Jute exports are experiencing negative growth, which is not desirable. Bring specific proposals for export earnings of jute and jute products, and we will do everything necessary. Even if exports do not reach $5 billion, I promise to do what is needed to reach $2 billion. The government is working tirelessly to restore the lost tradition of jute," he said.
