Behind the Community Feeling

Behind the 'Community' Feeling THE Indian jute industry has benefited enormously from Bangla Desh's struggle for liberation. After March last year, manufacture of jute goods in Bangla Desh progressively came to a halt; export of both jute goods and raw jute from Bangla Desh also tapered off. As a result the Indian industry was able to, first, snap up large quantities of Bangla Desh jute at distress sale prices and, second, export more jute goods and at higher prices. A number of mills in Calcutta, which had not worked for years, came to life. After this exhilarating experience it is entirely understandable that the Indian industry should want to promote a 'jute community' of India and Bangla Desh. India and Bangla Desh between them account for 85 per cent of total world exports of jute goods and an agreement between the two could go a long way in preventing the foreign buyer from beating down export prices and in devising measures to withstand better the growing competition from synthetic substitutes to jute goods. These are undoubtedly worthwhile objectives to be. pursued (albeit, after the Bangla Desh economy has achieved a modicum of stability and the last Indian soldier has returned home), but the Indian jute industry appears to have certain other considerations as well in mind in mooting the 'jute community' idea.