Adviser to Ministry of Textiles and Jute and Ministry of Shipping Brigadier General (Retd.) Dr. M Sakhawat Hossain paid a courtesy call on South Korean Ambassador Park Yong-sik . The meeting was held on Wednesday (October 16, 2024) at the office of the adviser in the Ministry of Shipping.

Adviser to the Ministry of Textiles and Jute and Shipping Brigadier General (retd) called for investment in textile and jute and shipping industry. M Sakhawat Hossain said, ‘Once the jute mills were managed by the government. Now the process of leasing the mills nationally and internationally is underway. The current government has taken steps to introduce jute bags instead of polythene to prevent environmental pollution. Apart from this, the production of ‘Sonali Bag’ made from jute is going on. The demand for eco-friendly jute and jute products is increasing in the country and abroad. We are exporting eco-friendly raw jute and jute products.

Jute Diversification Promotion Center (JDPC) is working to produce multipurpose jute products. Steps are being taken to enrich the jute and textile sector through research activities. Mentioning this as a very promising sector, the adviser urged the Korean ambassador to invest in the country’s jute sector. Highlighting the relationship between Bangladesh and Korea, the advisor of the Ministry of Shipping, M Sakhawat Hossain, also said that currently a proposal related to the purchase of crude oil tankers from Korea is under process. In addition, noting that more projects of the ministry related to South Korea are underway, the advisor urged Korean investors to invest in the country’s ship industry.

Applauding the current government’s initiative to stop polythene to prevent environmental pollution, Korean Ambassador Park Yong-sik said, ‘Environmental pollution is a global problem. As a natural fiber, jute is environmentally friendly. He expressed hope that Korea will cooperate in the development of jute sector in Bangladesh. Korean Ambassador Park Yong-sik also said, ‘About two years ago, a delegation of Korean investors came to visit this country to see investment opportunities and possibilities. Then he also visited Matarbari port. This effort will continue in the future.’ The ambassador said that Bangladesh has bright potential in the shipping industry.

During the conversation, while highlighting the country’s investment environment and discipline, Advisor M Sakhawat said, “Current time for investment in the country is safer than any time in the past.”
The current government is taking a vocal role against corruption, bribery and irregularities. The law and order environment of the country is also improving. A political party ruled for a long time, siphoning huge sums of money out of the country. which has damaged the country’s economy. The current government is working diligently to control inflation in the country.

At that time, Acting Secretary of the Ministry of Shipping Delwara Begum, Director General of the Directorate of Shipping Commodore Mohammad Maqsood Alam, Textile and Jute Ministry Additional Secretary Taslima Kaniz Nahida, Deputy Secretary Asma Ara Begum, South Korea Embassy Consul Kim Jeong Ki were present.