Chattogram, Oct 22 (V7N) – State Minister for Textiles and Jute Md Shariful Alam today stressed the need to increase production and create new jobs by ensuring the optimum use of existing infrastructure and resources at closed industrial units and those lagging behind in production.
He said Bangladesh's textile and jute industries had a long tradition and enormous potential. To harness this potential, the existing infrastructure, workforce and production capacity of industrial units must be properly utilised.
The state minister made the remarks while visiting Amin Jute Mills and Asiatic Cotton Mills in Chattogram on Thursday. During the visits, he inquired about the overall operations, existing infrastructure, production capacity and development prospects of the two industrial units. He also visited No View Guest House in the port city.
Opportunities to boost production and employment must be created through realistic initiatives to address existing problems in the industrial sector, he said. During the visits, officials concerned briefed him on the current condition, operations and available facilities of the two mills. They also discussed the development of the textile and jute sectors, the effective use of industrial resources and ways to enhance production capacity.
He said jute is a traditional cash crop of Bangladesh and holds special significance in the global market as an environment-friendly natural fibre. The textile and textile-related sectors, meanwhile, played an important role in the country's industrialisation, export earnings and employment generation.
Shariful Alam said the use of modern technology, improvements in production systems and effective management of existing resources are important for industrial development. He said development in the industrial sector could be accelerated by taking necessary measures after reviewing the actual conditions of the concerned institutions.
The state minister said ensuring the proper use of state-owned industrial assets, expanding production-oriented economic activities and creating new employment opportunities were among the government's key objectives. He said the relevant corporations and officials must work in coordination to achieve these goals.
Chairman of Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation (BJMC) Brigadier General M Kabir Uddin Sikder, Chairman of Bangladesh Textile Mills Corporation (BTMC) Brigadier General SM Zahid Hasan and other concerned officials were present during the visits.
