Industries Minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun has said that a countrywide network should be established for collecting and preserving raw hides for the improvement of the local leather industry.
The minister said this while speaking as the chief guest at a workshop titled 'Potentials and Challenges of Leather Sector in Bangladesh: Points to Ponder'. Support to Sustainable Graduation Project (SSGP) of the Economic Relations Division (ERD) organized the workshop, according to a press release.
The minister also called for the necessary enhancement of the skill base for the improvement of the leather industry.
Member of the Planning Commission Abdul Baki and President of the Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) Md Saiful Islam were present as special guests.
ERD Secretary Sharifa Khan chaired the event.
Leather is considered one of the most important and promising sectors for Bangladesh's trade and economy. It was the highest export-earning sector of the country after readymade garments during the last fiscal year.
Considering the huge potential of this industry-- the government has identified it as one of the top priority sectors.
Currently, leather and leather products exported from Bangladesh enjoy Duty-Free Quota Free (DFQF) market access in various countries. The sector is also benefiting from various government support, including cash incentives.
In this context, the workshop was organized to identify the potentials and challenges of this sector and to discuss the strategies and way forward to utilize the full potential of the leather sector.
ERD Secretary Sharifa Khan, in her speech, called for necessary policy formulation for preparing the leather sector for the post-LDC graduation scenario.
Member of the Planning Commission Abdul Baki, in his speech, put emphasis on improving the ease of doing business in the country.
MCCI President Md Saiful Islam, in his remarks, called for establishing an effective linkage between the local RMG industry and the leather goods and footwear sector.
Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Industries Md Shamimul Haque, Director of the Institute of Leather Engineering and Technology of the University of Dhaka Dr Mohammed Mizanur Rahman, Chief Executive Officer of Bangladesh Finished Leather, Leather Goods and Footwear Exporters Association(BFLLFEA) Md Jainal Abedin, and General Secretary of Bangladesh Tanners Association Md Shakawat Ullah spoke during the event as panellists.
Panellists and discussants of the workshop put emphasis on properly operationalizing the CETP of the tannery estate, strengthening the backward linkage industries and proper preservation of raw hides from the grassroots level.
Leather sector expert Rabiul Islam Rabi, in his keynote presentation, opined that effective operationalization of the Leather Development Authority under the Prime Minister's Office would give a big boost to expedite reform measures.
He also observed that at least 15 to 20 leather factories in the country need to be prepared for Leather Working Group (LWG) certification within the next 5 years.
Welcoming the participants to the seminar, Additional Secretary of ERD and Project Director of SSGP Farid Aziz said that it is high time to fully operationalize the CETP of the tannery estate and attain the LWG certification.
Senior officials from government ministries, agencies and research institutions, representatives from relevant trade associations and think tanks attended the workshop.
