This will be a joint venture by Japan and korean investors, he said.

Speaking in an opinion exchange meeting with local businessmen, political leaders and newsmen at the local circuit house on Saturday, the minister said site for the mill has been primarily selected at Shibram in Lalmonirhat Sader upzila.

"The proposed mill will provide employment to 10,000 people and help remove monga in Lalmonirhat and Kurigram districts to a great extent.

Five Korean and Japanese business delegates led by Dr. Likomy, Jute Secretary Shahidul Islam, and lalmonirhat BNP secretary Sale Uddin Ahmed Helal were also present at the meeting, among others.

As bamboo grows abundantly in these two districts, Japanese and Korean entrepreneurs have shown interest to set up a bamboo- based spinning mills in the region, the Jute Secretary told the meeting.

The minister hoped that foundation of the proposed mill could be laid in September and it might go for production by 2006. Later, the minister and the foreign delegates visited the proposed site at Shibram village.