Home ›› 10 Mar 2023 ›› News
The annual transaction of the Hazaribagh leather cluster at present is about Tk 60 crore, according to the SME Foundation.
The leather cluster manufactures luxury and quality leather products such as shoes, bags and jackets, industry insiders said in a seminar on the ‘Possibilities and actions of leather goods in Hazaribagh cluster’. SME Foundation Chairperson Md Masudur Rahman presided over the programme at the capital’s Agargaon Tourism Bhawan on Thursday.
SME Foundation officials said the foundation is helping entrepreneurs at the leather cluster to increase the annual production by ensuring the quality of the leather goods and their diversification and developing the skills of the employees as well as the entrepreneurs.
Masudur Rahman said, “Bangladesh may not have the facility of duty-free export of manufactured garments in the European market after LDC graduation by 2026. The leather industry can be a potential sector along with readymade garments or as an alternative.”
He said according to entrepreneurs, if the government reduces policy barriers, improves the goods quality, diversifies the products, ensures compliance along with access to easy term loans, exempts taxes and duties and provides incentive, the sector will play a role in contributing to the country’s economy and earning foreign exchange.
Speaking as the chief guest at the event, the Department of Environment director general Abdul Hamid said, “The government is working to allocate space next to the tannery village of Savar, besides making it easier to obtain environmental clearance for small leather products factories located now in the cluster.”
SME Foundation Managing Director Md Mofizur Rahman said, “The annual turnover of the cluster is currently around Tk 50-60 crore.
