Jute mill strike withdrawn
  Bhubaneswar December 19, 2008: The 19-day old indefinite jute strike ended late last night with the Union government playing a lead role in resolving the impasse.  A four-point tripartite memorandum of settlement has been signed between the mill owners, workers' unions and Central and West Bengal government officials for resolving the crisis.
  According to the settlement, workmen shall be paid a sum of Rs 500 per month (for 208 hours) with effect from the date the mill re-opens as ad hoc payment against outstanding dues. Eighteen trade unions barring the CITU dominated Bengal Chatkal Mazdoor Union (BCMU) had gone on an indefinite strike from December 1, 2008 demanding higher dearness allowance (DA) and full payment of workers’ statutory dues. 
  Though BCMU kept away from the strike on arguments of being ‘untimely’ and ‘not properly geared’, also signed the settlement. It was decided that a tripartite committee consisting of central and state government experts, employers and trade union representatives will be constituted by the Union government to study all outstanding issues and various facets of working of jute industry including production, productivity and wage structure. 
  The committee will submit its recommendations to the labour ministry within eight weeks. The settlement said that the 19-day period of strike will be treated as no-work no-pay for the workers and they will have to join duties within 15 days from the re-opening of the mills. The strike period will not be treated as a break or 
discontinuity of service for the workmen.
Source: Business Standard
  Tripartite meeting to resolve strike in jute industry
  New Delhi, December 17, 2008: The Centre has convened a tripartite meeting to resolve the ongoing strike in jute industry in West Bengal. The Union Labour Minister Oscar Fernandes will preside over the meeting in New Delhi on Wednesday. Earlier a tripartite meeting convened by the West Bengal Labour Commisioner in Kolkata has failed to resolve the deadlock. 
  Meanwhile the indefinite strike in jute industry in the state has entered 17th day on Wednesday. Eighteen trade unions have jointly called the strike demanding hike of wages, dearness allowance and other benefits. 
  Trade unions sought Centre's intervention to end strike in jute mills
  Kolkata December 16, 2008: Trade union members have sought Centre's intervention to end the indefinite strike in jute mills in West Bengal.The labour unions, along with jute mill owners, will meet Oscar Fernandes, Union labour and employment minister on Wednesday.
  Meanwhile, yesterday's tripartite meeting between trade union members, government and the jute industry representatives failed to arrive at a meaningful conclusion, as internal rivalry among trade unions took precedence.
Source: Business Standard
  Mill strike hurts jute bags
   Kolkata, December 13, 2008: The Union textile ministry has allowed the use of 1.6 lakh bales of HDPE (high-density polyethylene) bags as an emergency measure to meet any shortfall in jute bags because of the indefinite strike in Bengal mills. Around 2.5 lakh jute mill workers in Bengal have gone on an indefinite strike from December 1 demanding full payment of their statutory dues, including pending dearness allowance. Fearing a shortage of bags, the ministry had initially allowed the use of 85,000 bales of HDPE bags. Each bale comprises 500 bags. It later provided a cushion of another 80,000 bales to ensure adequate packing material for foodgrains. HDPE bags are made of high-density polyethylene and serve as an alternative to jute. 
   The demand for jute bags is high, with the procurement of foodgrain for the kharif season, that ended in November, and that for the rabi season starting this month. The kharif procurement will continue for another fortnight, while the rabi procurement will continue till the third week of this month.
 The strike has severely compromised the rule that makes packing in jute bags mandatory for foodgrains and sugar. In 1987, as part of a development package for Bengal, the Rajiv Gandhi government had promulgated the mandatory jute packaging material order. The state labour department has convened a meeting of mill owners and trade union representatives on Dec.15 to find a solution to the ongoing impasse. 
Source:THE TELEGRAPH 
   Left seeks govt. intervention to end jute workers' strike 
   New Delhi, December 12, 2008 (PTI): Left members in the Lok Sabhaon Friday asked the government to intervene to end the indefinite strike by over 2.5 lakh jute workers against non-payment of legal dues by the mill owners, saying food procurement would be affected by the agitation. 
  The members belonging to CPI(M) and CPI said not only were the mill owners defaulting on payment of gratuity, provident fund and other dues to the workers of over Rs 1,000 crore, they were also not paying excise and other duties to the government. Raising the matter during Zero Hour, Hannan Mollah (CPI-M) said the "anti-worker" attitude of the owners could be "exploited by the synthetic lobby" as major packaging order of seven lakh bales was pending for jute bags for foodgrain procurement. The strike is going on for about 10 days. 
   Supporting his contention, CPI leader Gurudas Dasgupta said the government was also losing Rs 100 crore because of "non-payment of excise and sales tax". He demanded that Labour Ministry urgently convene a meeting of the owners, trade unions and the Commerce Ministry representatives to find a way out on an urgent basis. CPI(M)'s Rupchand Pal expressed concern over "dilution" in the packaging order of seven lakh bales, which, he said, would adversely affected the jute industry based in the eastern parts of the country. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi said he would convey the sentiments of the House to the Ministries concerned. 
   Jute strike in 55 Jute mills
   KOLKATA. December 01, 2008: About 2.5 lakh workers in 55 jute mills today started their indefinite strike following failure of tripartite talks. Mr Subrata Mukherjee, Intuc president said: “Strike in the jute mills is quite successful today. But, at least for once both 
Citu and Trinamul Congress trade union INTTUC have come close to each other by not joining the strike.'' Meanwhile, Mr Sovandeb Chattopadhyay, INTTUC president held a rally at Esplanade demanding that jute mill workers should get their due financial benefits.
  Handloom and handicraft, Jute exhibition-cum-sale in Gujarat
  Vijayanagar, November 20, 2008 Gujarat Emporium is holding a handloom and handicraft exhibition- cum- sale at, Vijayanagar till November 27. Craftpersons from all over the country are participating in the exhibition. You have a wide variety of handicraft,  glass work, cotton sarees, bags, letterstands with elephant and floral motifs, decorative puppets pieces, file holders, door cutters, mats,  Gujarati jewellery and many more items of handicrafts. Jute items includes jute chairs, bags, wall hangings, frames, jute clips. There is a discount of 10 per cent on handicrafts and 20 per cent on handloom items. 
  Jute industry strike means Rs 1000cr loss
   Kolkata, November 15, 2008: The imminent jute strike in West Bengal from December 1 2008 may result in losses of around Rs 1000 crore, fears the industry. The trade unions, who have called the strike, however, point out such managerial claims to be ‘vague and false’. As per industry estimates, during the strike period, Rs 500 crore may be lost because of no offtakes of bags by the sugar  industry. The remaining loss may arise out of stopping of bags  supply for other agri-commodities like oilseeds, guars and lentils.  There is also an impending fear of the jute industry losing  the Rabi season food grain market which is around Rs 2000 crore.
  The jute industry witnessed a 63-day strike from January 5 to March 8 in 2007. Jute strikes in Bengal have almost become a seasonal and routine affair taking place every year. Eighteen trade unions, barring the bigger section, the CITU affiliated BCMU, has called for a strike from December 1 in  the 59 jute mills of West Bengal involving over 2.5 lakh  workers.
Source: Business Standard
  Tesco outsourcing jute bags from Bangladesh
  Dhaka, November 11, 2008: Global retailer giant Tesco has started outsourcing jute-made shopping bags from Bangladesh as part of its move to promote environment-friendly products worldwide, said an official of a local company yesterday.Sonali Aansh Group is also engaged in exporting high-fashion jute-made ladies bags, jute fabrics and espadrille, a casual flat or high-heel fashion sandal made of jute or cotton. Patwari said Sonali Aansh has got orders from Tesco after it met compliance requirements. 
  Patwari found prospects of jute products such as shopping bags, and said global retailers are pushing 
consumers into using these bags in many countries as some governments discourage use of plastic bags to protect environment.
  The three-day fair, which brought nearly 70 companies from various sectors including pharmaceuticals, 
chemical, automobiles, machinery, leather goods and footwear, shipbuilding, and garments, also raised hopes among the organisers about better trade relations with Germany.
Source: The Daily Star
  Jute fair at  Ranchi 
  Ranchi, November 5, 2008: A Jute Fair began at Plaza Chowk, Ranchi on Wednesday. The fair, organised by Jute Manufactures Development Council (JMDC), Ministry of Textiles, will continue till November 10. From fancy slippers to sling bags, ethnic jute jewellery and household goods — a variety of products were on the display at 16 stalls. While most exhibitors were from Bengal, a few from Uttar Pradesh also marked their presence. 
  Sajal Ghosh from JMDC said that jute being an eco-friendly fibre has immense popularity across the globe. Also its silky golden lustre gives it a rich look and attracts many. It has become a substitute for many scarce forest materials. JMDC tries to promote both the jute growers and the artisans through proper marketing across the country and abroad. Carpets, floor coverings and door mats from Cooch Behar district of Bengal, ranging from rupees 50 to 1000, and wall hangings from  UP were also available at the fair.
  Jute Fair  Inaugurated in  Mangalore  City 
  Mangalore, November 4, 2008: ‘Jute Fair’ an exhibition cum sale of lifestyle jute products was launched at Woodlands Auditorium Hall on Monday November 3. The fair has been jointly organized by the Jute 
Manufacturers’ Development Council (JMDC) and National Centre for Jute Diversification (NCJD). 
  The week-long fair was inaugurated by district in-charge minister J Krishna Palemar. According to the organizers, around 25-30 jute entrepreneurs from different parts of the country will showcase their environment-friendly jute products such as floor coverings, shopping and fancy carry bags, handicrafts, wall hangings, gifts and novelties, and home textile accessories. The fair will conclude on Sunday November 9.
Source: Daijiworld Media
  Experts tap trade option in jute
  Dhubri: October 28, 2008: A regional jute marketing centre has taken up an elaborate project to promote the natural fibre as an antidote to synthetic pollution. Three centres from Dhubri — Gouripur, Patiladoh and Abhayapuri  - have been selected to promote diversification of jute products by using the best technology in business.
  A workshop was organised by the Udyog Vikash Kendra at the district library on Saturday to discuss ways to tap Dhubri’s jute production.  “Henceforth, efforts should be made to develop new products from jute - a versatile and environment-friendly natural fibre. The production and commercialisation of value-added 
jute materials will create additional employment opportunities and help alleviate poverty,” said district deputy commissioner Jatindra Lahakar. 
  Nearly 15,000 farmers produce 4-5 lakh quintals of jute annually in the district. President of the Udyog Vikash Kendra, S. Rahman, said jute was an important foreign exchange earner during the Sixties and 
Seventies. During the Eighties, synthetic substitutes pushed jute out of the market. That trend now needs to be reversed through technology, he said. 
Source: The Telegraph
  Jute order relief 
  Kolkata, October. 27, 2008: The Centre has allowed the conditional dilution of the Jute Packaging Materials Act for Punjab apprehending a shortfall of jute bags because of a sudden spurt in the arrival of paddy in the mandis of the state. The act makes it mandatory for food grains to be packed in jute bags. The government, in its order dated October 23, has said  “the exemption is granted only for the Government of Punjab for the procurement of 80,000 bales of 50-kg bags for packing of material procured on or before November 30. Beyond this date the exemption shall turn void”.
Source: THE TELEGRAPH
  JK Jute mill, Kanpur reopens after five years 
  Kanpur, October 21: Juggilal Kamlapat (JK) Jute Mill in Kanpur reopened after five years on Monday, bringing back to all of its 3,500 employees. When the gates of Juggilal Kamlapat (JK) Jute Mill opened on Monday morning, employees burst crackers and danced in celebration. The management announced a 
Diwali bonus of Rs 1,000. 
  With a financial losses worth Rs 41 crore, the JK Group had closed down the mill on June 21, 2003. JK - Juggilal Kamlapat  Jute Mill was Set up in 1954, it manufactured conventional jute goods, including hessian and sacking. The Kolkata-based Sarda group and Mall group jointly bought it over. Their company, Rainey Parks Suppliers Private Limited (RPSPL) now owns the mill. The mill was restarted after an agreement was reached between the new management and seven workers’ unions. 
  Mills eye Jute Corporation help
  Kolkata October 15, 2008: The Jute Corporation of India (JCI), the government body for jute procurement and implementation of minimum support price (MSP) operations, may come to rescue the jute mill owners, struggling to cope up the increased demand for gunny bags ahead of a good rabi (winter) crop.
According to sources in the industry, JCI may opt for back-to-back purchase of raw jute. It might also supply 10,000 quintals of the commodity to a private mill, sources in the jute industry said, after a gap 
of almost three years.
  Under back-to-back operations, JCI would purchase jute from farmers at MSP prices, close to Rs 1,400 per quintal for the TD-5 variety, and sell it to the jute mills at about Rs 1,650 per quintal. Transport cost was to be borne by JCI. The corporation is also in talks with other private mill owners for a similar arrangement, sources said. Also, last year's carry over stock of 25 lakh bales was likely to be utilised this year. This year, the total jute production was pegged at 85 lakh bales. However, with jute acreage lower by almost 25 per cent this year, prices were likely to increase further next year. At present, jute prices were between Rs 1,300-1,500 per quintal, and almost 60 per cent of the crop had been purchased 
by mills.
  Earlier, Hrishikesh Shroff, president of Gunny Trades Association, said that in September alone the Food Corporation of India (FCI), along with the food grain procurement agencies of Punjab and Haryana, had placed orders 300,000 bales of B Twill jute bags, against about 150,000 bales on average every 
month. For the period between June to October this year, demand for jute bags by the procurement agencies was 11 lakh bales. In 2007-08, for the entire year, government procurement was 15.92 lakh bales.
Source: Business Standard
  TUs converge on Nov strike call
  Kolkata, October 06, 2008: Twenty trade unions (TU) from the jute sector decided to call an indefinite strike in November in support of their charter of demand in addition to the earlier charter. The meeting at the CPM labour arm citu’s state headquarters, Shramik Bhavan, was chaired by the Congress labour wing intuc’s president Subrata Mukherjee. Leaders from the BCMU, AITUC, HMS, BMS and other trade unions attended the meeting.
The date for calling the strike will be finalised on October 25 and announced at a joint convention of jute workers and TU leaders slated for the next day at Yuba Kendra. The meeting decided that TU leaders of different political shades will hold zonal meetings to consolidate their strength and communicate with workers on the injustice being done to them and non-payment of legal dues such DA arrears, PF/ESI and gratuity dues. 
Source: The Economic Times 
  Jute bag supply short of grain demand
  Kolkata October 04, 2008: With food grain production this year exceeding expectations, jute mills are finding it difficult to cope with the increased demand for jute bags by government procurement agencies, even as another strike by the mill workers threatens to cripple the industry. 
  According to government estimates, for kharif crop during 2008-09, the jute, area sown was 7.37 lakh 
hectares, compared to 8.26 lakh hectares last year. According to Hrishikesh Shroff, president, Gunny Trades Association, in September alone the the Food Corporation of India (FCI), along with the food grain procurement agencies of Punjab and Haryana, had placed orders three lakh bales of B Twill jute bags, against about one to one and half lakh bales on an average every month.
  For the period between June to October this year the demand for jute bags by the procurement agencies was 11 lakh bale. In 2007-08, for the entire year, government procurement was 15.92 lakh bales. Meanwhile, this year also the government has decided for 100 per cent reservation of jute bags in food grains and sugar packaging. According to Shroff, the mills were in a position to meet the demand, adding, the workers were once again threatening to go for a strike on issues related to wages, dearness allowances and settlement of dues.
Source: Business Standard
  International Conference on "Technical textiles in the Apparel Sector"
  NIFT, Bangalore is organizing a two days International Conference on "Technical textiles in the Apparel Sector" on 21 – 22 November 2008. The conference dates are concurrent with India-ITME – The Indian Textile Machinery Exhibition which is going to be held in Bangalore from 15th Nov. to 22nd Nov., 2008 and will thus give delegates opportunity to attend both the events.
  Papers are invited from researchers, consultants, academics, manufacturers, machinery manufacturers, developers and designers, on technical textile applications in various fields of fashion and apparel. The areas of the papers to be presented and discussed will be on design aspects and manufacturing technologies for various technical textile products including technical yarns, woven, knitted, braided and non-wovens products, etc.
  Further, the conference organizing committee solicits financial support and sponsorships from your esteemed organization for various activities and events. To support these outstanding educational programs, we are offering companies various types of sponsorship opportunities as given in theme paper. Exhaustive media coverage will ensure maximum publicity for this conference. 
 Contact: Vasant R Kothari, National Institute of Fashion Technology 
 Bangalore - 560 034 :Handphone: 91 9844014515 
   Bihar Govt.sanctioned Rs 59 crore to develop jute industry.
   PATNA, September 25, 2008: The Cabinet meet on Tuesday sanctioned Rs 59 crore to develop necessary infrastructure for jute industry. The money would be spent on development of jute cultivation, jute park, modern jute service centre, jute processing and dying centre, design and product development centre and jute raw material banks in jute growing districts like Katihar, Kishanganj, Purnia, Araria, Supaul and Madhepura. 
Source: The Times of India
   Jute traders boycott haats
   RAIGANJ , Sept 22, 2008 : To protest against police in-activeness the jute traders of Islampur subdivision under the banner of Islampur Jute Merchant Association today boycotted dealing in jute in several haats of Islampur, Chopra, Goalpokhar , Chakulia and Karandighi police stations of the district. They also blocked National Highway 31 in Islampur for nearly an hour this morning. 
   The secretary of Islampur Jute Merchant Association Mr Naleshwar Agarwal said: "More than a week has passed since the criminals looted Rs 3 lakhs from one Naren Bihani, a jute merchant after holding him at gun point at Narukhoa village in Goalpokhar. But the police could not arrest the criminals. Looting and snatching from jute merchants is now a daily phenomenon in different haats of Islampur. If the police fail to arrest the criminals soon, we will stop dealing in jute for an indefinite period in the district. 
Source: Statesman News 
   Sarda Group enters facility management, acquires Talbot & Co 
   KOLKATA, September 19, 2008: The Rs 2,000-crore Sarda Group has taken over asset and facility management brand Talbot & Company in India at an undisclosed sum foraying into the real estate management segment. "We have acquired Talbot & Company which has roots in UK and this acquisition will help us to get a headway in facility management services," Sarda Group Chairman Ghanshyam Sarda said today. "We have to streamline Talbot's services in keeping with current trends of globalisation. The solutions we offer shall be tailored to meet specific requirements. Talbot will be providing a complete range of commercial real estate services including leasing, acquisition and facility management," he said. 
   At present, Talbot & Co has operates in Kolkata with employing about 50-60 people without any property. The Talbot brand is used in several countries, but managed under separate management. He said the company would expand manpower to 1,000 and the annual turnover of Rs 300 crore in the next three to four years. Sarda Group has interests in jute mills, chemical and IT business in USA. The IT company is primarily focussed on marine software solutions to major liners. -PTI
  Kona–Tex of Moscow, Russia has become the Associate Member of  IJSG.  
   Dhaka, September 9, 2008: Kona–Tex, a jute product manufacturer of Moscow, Russia has become the 73rd Associate Member of the International Jute Study Group (IJSG) recently. A delegation of Kona Company of Russia met the officials of the International Jute Study Group (IJSG) on 25 August 2008 at the IJSG Secretariat to discuss various issues relating to trade of jute. The Russian Delegates were visiting Bangladesh to study the current jute situation.
Mr. Ivan A. Kravtsov, Attaché, Embassy of the Russian Federation in Bangladesh introduced the delegation of Kona Company. The Delegation was comprised of Mr. Valentin V. Zhiltsov- Director on external economic activities and Mr. Andrey Samsonov, Commercial Director
Mr. Md. Faruque Hossain, Finance and Administrative Officer and Mr. Md. Siddiqur Rahman, Consultant (Operations) of the IJSG took part in the discussion which mainly focused on production and price of raw jute and also the activities of IJSG.
 (Source: International Jute Study Group, Dhaka)
  Jute manufacturers fear price of B.Twill bags may increase 
  KOLKATA, August 28,2008: The domestic jute industry is perturbed to learn that the Union ministry of textiles (MoT) is considering a proposal to allow the Jute Corporation of India (JCI) to procure raw jute this season through commercial purchases (CP) operation and sell it by linking to departmental B.Twill production orders. 
  Concerned over the development, the industry feels it would increase the price of B.Twill bags that have to be mandatorily purchased by the DGS&D on behalf of FCI and other state agencies as per the 
statutory Jute Packaging Materials Act. Consequently, it will not only load government exchequer, but also increase the packaging cost of foodgrain being distributed through PDS. 
  The latest proposal also contradicts earlier government decisions, taken in October 2005 and March 2006, when the JCI was allowed to procure jute through CP and minimum support price (MSP) operation 
and allowed to sell the same through B.Twill linking to jute mills. It was then decided by the authority that the practice of linking commercially-procured jute to B.Twill and production control orders (PCOs) should be dispensed forthwith.
Source:The Economic Times 
  Jute reservation for grain, sugar packing stays
   KOLKATA, 21, 2008: The Union Cabinet at its Thursday meeting has finally approved status qui ante for the jute reservation norms at 100%, both for food grains and sugar, under Jute Packaging Act, 1987 (JPMA) till June 30, 2009.
   Ijma wants Centre to restart EMA
   Kolkata, August 20, 2008: Concerned over the negative growth in export of jute goods coupled with a steady rise in production, the Indian jute industry has urged the Union ministry of textile (MoT) to reintroduce the erstwhile export market assistance scheme (EMA) which was discontinued from April 1, 2008.
   The ill-impact of EMA discontinuation is evident from export statistics on jute goods. From 2003-04 to 2006-07 exports have dropped by nearly 23% to 2.43 lakh tonne while production has increased by over 11% to 17.76 lakh tonne.
    Green bags at city malls soon
    KOLKATA, August 11, 2008: The state government's repeated efforts to stop the use of plastic bags thinner than 40 microns went unsuccessful. But now, it has come up with a whole new approach to going green: carry bags that are not only bio-degradable, but are actually green in colour. 
   The West Bengal Green Energy Development Corporation (WBGEDC) is all set to introduce bio-degradable carry bags in several city malls to replace conventional plastic carry bags, which pose serious environmental hazards. WBGEDC managing director S P Ganchoudhuri said he h as already asked some of the city's mall owners to promote these bags. We will request mall developers to convince store-owners to use the green bags instead of plastic ones. 
   The WBGEDC managing director said these bags, made of jute and fibre, would be completely bio-degradable. "The bags could also be made from waste paper. Using these bags would be beneficial, as these are environment-friendly. We will send a bunch of sample bags to mall owners. These can carry company names and logos," he said. 
To help promote usage, WBGEDC will distribute one lakh such bags at special concessional rates. A self-help group will look into the bags' distribution at all mall stores that agree to use these. 
  Source: The Times of India
    JMDC may send team to US, Brazil to secure orders
    Kolkata: Encouraged by the volume of business procured by the delegation led by the Jute manufacture Development Council (JMDC) to Syria and Turkey early this month, JMDC has decided to send another delegation to Las Vegas and Brazil in the second week of August to explore market possibilities diversified products. The purpose of the proposed delegation to the US and Brazil is to participate in international trade shows during August 10-13, 2008. In response to JMDC seeking allotment of booths at the trade show, the fair organisers have recently intimated the former that seven furnished booths have been allotted to it. 
   JMDC has asked the Indian jute units, mainly diversified products manufacturers who are interested in participating in the trade fair, to apply in prescribed form with concerned company profile-name of representative willing to attend the fair as noted in valid passport along with other necessary documents.  At the JMDC's delegation to Syria and Turkey, some Kolkata-based jute mills on their own efforts have secured some business of about 1,100 tonne or over 2,000 bales of hessian cloth and bags worth Rs 5 crore or so. 
   Andhra Pradesh entrepreneur plans Rs.100 crore Jute Park
   Kolkata, August 6, 2008: An Andhra Pradesh entrepreneur plans to set up a jute park with an investment of Rs. 100 crore at Sabbavatatn mandal in Visakhapatnam. The initial investment for the brainchild of BV Rama Rao is peffed at Rs. 50 crore. The project dedicated to manufacturing diversified jute products, is expected to have a potential to attcat an investment of Rs.500 crore.
   Panel forwards proposals for 6 jute parks
  Kolkata July 31, 2008: Based on the latest position of setting up to 10 jute parks in the country under Jute Technology Mission (JTM) scheme, it is learnt  that the Project Management Committee (PMC) on the proposed jute parks has forwarded six such proposals. Out of these, five are to for West Bengal and one for Rajasthan.
   Ganges Jute signs MoU to build factory in Ghana
   New Delhi July 25, 2008: West Bengal-based Ganges Jute (P) Ltd has signed a memorandum of understanding with Ghana Cocoa Board (Cocobod) to set up a jute bag-stitching factory at Kumasi, Ghana News Agency said. The $1 million factory would help the West African country in reducing dependency on imports of jute bags for packaging cocoa, according to the news agency.  Isaac Osei, Cocobod Chief Executive and Abhishek Poddar, Director of Ganges Jute, jointly signed the MoU in Accra on Thursday. The Indian company would build the factory as a joint venture in the country's second largest city Kumasi, it said. 
  The facility would also save cost, facilitate operations and generate employment and foreign exchange for the African country. The factory would be solely financed by Ganges with Cocobod providing a seven-warehouse facility, as its equity.  Poddar said the company had started the necessary administrative work and was also prepared to begin the project.  He said the company would also finance a $ 5 million  complete jute- manufacturing factory in the country, if the operations of the stitching factory were successful. 
   Osei said jute bags remained an important input in cocoa production and as such its local manufacturing would facilitate supply of the bags for cocoa packaging. "With this, we can plan ahead and it would no longer be necessary for us to stock huge quantities during every session," he added. Ghana is world's second biggest cocoa grower and its 
economy depends on cocoa exports. - PTI
  Jute futures on MCX set for correction 
  Mumbai, April 21, 2008: The jute futures on MCX, which rallied for the past few weeks on lower production estimates, are all set for a correction. In the last ten days, jute for June delivery on MCX has rallied from Rs 1,562 to Rs 1,621 a quintal on Saturday. Prices may come down by Rs 50-60 in the futures trade due to long liquidation before the near-month contract expires on April 30, he said. Currently spot prices are quoting around Rs 1,400 (TD-4) in spot markets of West Bengal. 
  According to trade estimates, output is likely to come down to 75-80 lakh bales (180 kgs a bale) from 103.49 bales logged last year. Carry forward stocks are likely to be around 20-22 lakh bales by end of season. The area under jute cultivation is lagging as farmers have shifted to other commercial crops, said an analyst. Government increased minimum support price (MSP) for Jute (TD 5) to Rs 1,250 a bale for 2008-09 effective from July 2008. 
Source: Business Line 
  IJSG emphasized on application of jute geo-textiles 
  KOLKATA, April 05, 2008: International Jute Study Group (IJSG) a Dhaka-based inter-governmental body set up to function as global commodity body for jute and other fibres, has emphasized on application of jute geo-textiles in areas like road building and prevention of soil erosion. On the sidelines of an international workshop on jute geo textiles (JGT), IJSG Secretary General Mr Sudripta Roy said here on Saturday that the future of the industry lay in the application of jute in diversified areas. He said road building and prevention of soil erosion were two important areas where JGT could find applications. However, Mr Roy added that Indian jute mill owners were not taking up the issue of JGT since the government was supporting the industry throu gh the stipulated mandatory packaging order. 
   According to him, such government support would not go on for long and the industry would have to look for alternative means for survival. In this context, he said the Indian government and Common Fund for Commodities of Amsterdam had built up a $4 milli on corpus fund for aiding the industry for manufacturing JGT. West Bengal industry minister Mr Nirupam Sen said the jute industry should take up new challenges and diversify into other areas. - PTI 
  Jute material protection may end soon by Government
  Kolkata, April 1, 2008: The union Government has decided on strategic reserves of grain to ensure longer reservation in more modern packing modes and exempting such reservation of  grain from the purview  of the Jute Packing Materials ( Compulsory Use in Packing Commodities)  Act,1987 (JPMA). The existing validity period for JPMA ensuring 100% compulsory use of jute bags expires by June 30, 2008. The eGoM has decided  ''the provision of JPMA will not apply to stocks held in in the strategic reserve of rice and wheat  by FCI and other public sector undertakings engaged in procuremebt of grain."
 Jute product output drops by 5,000 tonne 
 Bhubaneswar, March 15: Production and stock of jute products across the country have fallen in January 2008 by 5,000 tonnes compared with those in December 2007, according to the latest figures furnished by the Indian Jute Mills Association (IJMA). This has raised the fears of an increase in imports and rise in prices during the coming months. 
 While production has come down from 141,000 tonnes in December 2007 to 136,000 tonnes in January 2008, stocks have fallen by about 17,600 tonnes to 64,900 tonnes, ushering in problems for the domestic jute industry. Exports have also dwindled to a large extent coming down from 17,000 tonnes in December 2007 to 14,500 tonnes in January 2008. The biggest loss is on the hessian and sacking front, where exports have come down from 5,900 tonnes in December 2007 to 5,000 tonnes in January 2008. Sacking went down from 2,600 tonne to 1,300 tonne during the period. 
 According to IJMA chairman Sanjay Kajaria, “Demand for domestic jute products in the country is increasingly falling because of imports. Duty-free cheaper jute materials from Bangladesh, Nepal, Indonesia and China are flooding the Indian market, eating into the domestic industry. We apprehend a 100 per cent increase in imports during the coming year.” The country imported around 55,000 tonnes of jute products in 2007. The raw jute position, however, remained stable despite imports from Bangladesh. The opening stock in January 2008 was 1.3 million bales (1 bale = 180 kgs) and the closing stock was 1.2 million bales. Consumption during January was 780,000 bales and deliveries were around 705,000 bales during the month. 
 Source: Business Standard 
 New textile policy framed
 KOLKATA, March 14, 2008: The state micro, small-scale enterprise and textiles minister, Mr Manab Mukherjee today told the Assembly that a new textile policy had been drafted in the state to give a boost to the textile sector and generate employment opportunities. The minister said 43 companies opened offices here and four industrial hub had been established so far. The minister also said the a target had been set to generate 10 lakh employment opportunities in the new policy. 
  This apart, the new policy looks at setting up 50 textile clusters and five textile parks in the state by 2012. Also, about 10,000 handloom-based self-help groups would also be formed over the period. The department would try to promote Bengal’s own Tangail and Shantipur brands in the national as well as international markets. Not only handloom, the state would lay stress on the powerloom sector as well. The minister said a target had been set to establish 20,000 powerlooms in the state by 2012. The total powerloom produce in the state is six crore metres. 
  Replying to another question, the minister said that his department had plans to promote jute based industries. He said three jute parks will be set up in Cooch Behar and Murshidabad where diversified jute 
product industries would be set up. 
Source: Statesman

 Eco-friendly footwear components  
 KOLKATA, March 11, 2008:  APL Polyfab, a Kolkata-based footwear component producer has developed specially fabricated jute boards for making those components. The new raw material for footwear components is to be marketed by the company under the brand name Renotex. 
  With the demand for eco-friendly footwear going up world-wide, APL Polyfab has decided to stay focused on the world market while selling the novelty product. In sync with the marketing strategy, it has recently signed an agreement with UK-based Texon International to access markets of US and Europe for the Renotex branded jute board. Texon International, with a turnover of Rs 600 crore, is one of the world’s leading global footwear component producers. 
Source: Economic Times