Footwear cos to expand exports to European markets

The Ambassador of Switzerland to Bangladesh Dr. René Holenstein visited Picard Bangladesh - one of the members of Leathergoods And Footwear Manufacturers & Exporters Association of Bangladesh (LFMEAB) - in Savar recently.

Swiss Ambassador expressed his appreciation to LFMEAB for hosting the delegation and briefly touched upon areas for development and cooperation that could strengthen the sector, which in turn would enable Bangladesh to further expand its exports to the European markets, said a statement.

Mr. Md. Saiful Islam, the President of LFMEAB and Managing Director of Picard Bangladesh Ltd, welcomed Ambassador Holenstein to the factory and informed him about the progress that has been made in the Bangladeshi leathergoods and footwear export industry in terms of compliance and growth.

During this time, President of LFMEAB highlighted beyond compliance initiatives of LFMEAB under which 83 per cent of the total workers are protected under the group life insurance coverage, ensured health insurance for more than 50 per cent of eligible member factories, 70 per cent workers have been examined under the communicable diseases screening program, all the eligible factories are providing day care facilities, tuberculosis (TB) screening tests programs for workers, regular free eye sight testing, contagious disease testing, and free sanitary napkin distribution among female workers, and Community School etc.

The Ambassador toured the factory and had exchanges with the beneficiaries of an initiative supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) implemented through the Center of Excellence for Leather skill Bangladesh Limited (COEL). This initiative trained 10,000 apprentices in the Bangladeshi leather industry through on-job training. It further trained 6157 women and 6615 individuals under the 'disadvantaged' category.