Jute exports have grown nearly 24 per cent since 2014, Union Textiles Minister Smriti Irani said here on Monday. There has been steady improvement in the health of the domestic jute industry, she added.
“Exports of diversified jute products have grown nearly 24 per cent since 2014,” Irani told newspersons on the sidelines of ‘Artisan Speak & Jute Expo’, a textiles outreach initiative of her ministry. Irani has been suggeting to the jute industry to reduce its dependence on government orders and go for product diversification, which would in turn boost exports.
“I would request the jute industry to take into consideration the welfare of farmers and workers. Whenever the industry gets any packaging order from the Centre they should pay the farmers and workers first,” she said.
As many as 3.7 lakh mill workers are directly employed by the jute industry apart from several lakh farmers who are a part of the sector.
Industry expo
The four-day Artisan Speak and Jute Expo will have delegates from 14 nations. More than 70 buyers are participating in the programme.
According to Textiles Secretary Raghvendra Singh, the Centre has been trying to find ways and means to enhance the income of weavers and to connect them to garments manufacturers to increase their margins.