Growing Prospects in the Chinese Market

Silk is not merely woven into fabric; it carries stories of history, heritage and opportunity. Once a symbol of elegance, beauty and Bengali tradition, Rajshahi’s silk industry lost much of its former glory over time due to various challenges. However, with new initiatives involving modern research, technology and international cooperation, the industry is once again hoping to make a comeback. In particular, the vast potential for exporting Bangladeshi silk to China, one of the world’s largest silk producers and consumers, has opened a new horizon for the sector. Against this backdrop, a conference on silk farming research and development was held in Rajshahi as part of strategic cooperation between China and Bangladesh. The conference was held yesterday morning at the conference room of the Bangladesh Sericulture Research and Training Institute. State Minister for Textiles and Jute Mohammad Shariful Alam, MP, attended the event as the chief guest. Before the conference, he visited the Bangladesh Silk Factory and the Sericulture Research and Training Institute.

Highlighting the huge potential for silk exports to China, the state minister said the government has taken various initiatives at the grassroots level to modernize Rajshahi’s traditional silk industry and restore its lost glory. Alongside reviving the sector through modern technology, research and training, special emphasis is being placed on improving silk farming methods, expanding mulberry cultivation and enhancing the quality of silk yarn. He further said Rajshahi silk is not merely an industry but also a part of the country’s heritage and pride. In line with the current government’s election manifesto, initiatives have been taken to reopen state-owned closed industrial units. Alongside reopening these factories, plans are underway to expand markets and attract domestic and foreign investment. He noted that China’s market holds immense potential for Bangladesh’s silk industry. If Bangladeshi silk can establish a distinct and strong position in the world’s largest silk market, the benefits will directly reach silk farmers, weavers and entrepreneurs in Rajshahi. In addition to producing quality yarn and fabrics, adopting modern designs, attractive packaging, branding and effective marketing strategies could help establish ‘Rajshahi Silk’ as a strong international brand.

The conference also highlighted the historical importance of the silk industry. In 1977, the ‘Rajshahi Silk Board’ was established under the leadership of then-President Ziaur Rahman. Various initiatives were subsequently undertaken to develop the industry, while the current government is working to make the sector more modern and competitive through research and innovation. The current production situation of Rajshahi’s silk industry is also encouraging. Since the reopening of the silk factory in 2018 until June this year, a total of 59,468 metres of silk fabric have been produced at the factory. Its own showroom currently sells various high-quality silk products directly to customers, including traditional Garad sarees, printed sarees, Punjabi fabrics and Balaka silk. Experts believe that if the benefits of research can be properly applied at the grassroots level, both silk production and quality can be significantly increased. They said the sector could become more competitive through the development of improved varieties of mulberry and silkworms, modern training for farmers, technology-based production systems and increased knowledge and technology exchange with China. Organized by the China-Bangladesh Silk Research Centre, the conference is not merely an exchange of views but a far-reaching initiative to transform a local heritage product into one with strong international trade potential. Stakeholders hope that securing access to the Chinese market will boost the country’s exports and investment while creating significant employment opportunities in the rural economy.

The conference was organized by the China-Bangladesh Silk Research Centre with the cooperation of the Bangladesh Sericulture Development Board. Director General of the Bangladesh Sericulture Development Board Md Toufiq Al Mahmud chaired the event. Among the guests were Rajshahi-6 MP Abu Saeed Chand, Secretary of the Ministry of Textiles and Jute Sharif Uddin Ahmed Chowdhury, Professor and Vice Dean Xu Qiji of the School of Fashion Design and Engineering at Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, and Professor Nusrat Jahan Nipa, project initiator and chief coordinator of the China-Bangladesh Silk Research Centre. Senior Scientific Officer of the Bangladesh Sericulture Research and Training Institute, Dr Md Shakhawat Hossain, presented the keynote paper at the conference.