FE Report
Bangladeshi leather and footwear exporters can explore the European market by taking part in a fair which will be held in Paris from September 17 with solely focusing on the sector.
"Europe is a market of tens of billions of euros and China is still one of the largest leather and leather goods suppliers of Europe," Michael Scherpe, the visiting president of Messe Frankfurt France, said while addressing a press conference held at a city hotel on Saturday.
But China's exports are decreasing every year due to rising wages and domestic demand there, he said, adding that it creates good opportunities for factories in other countries including Bangladesh capable of manufacturing the same products at same service levels.
Raw materials are a promising category and there is a lot to do in Europe, he said, adding that Asia is exporting only 3.0 per cent and the inner European market accounts for 33 per cent of the global exchange.
Europe is also a strong producer, but as the luxury sector is pre-empting the hides and skins in Europe, the need for more importation will rise in the years to come, Mr Scherpe said, adding that this shortage of leather is affecting all levels of the supply chain and pushing up the prices of leather and manufacturing costs are also rising forcing European buyers to look for lower-cost suppliers.
"If the Bangladeshi companies attend international trade shows, they will be benefited in innovation, marketing, designs and fashion," he said.
Omer Salahuddin, chief executive officer of Messe Frankfurt Bangladesh, said some eight to ten local leather and leather goods exporters are expected to join the four-day show that Messe is going to organize for the first time.
During his visit to Dhaka, Mr Scherpe met top government officials, leaders of Leathergoods and Footwear Manufacturers & Exporters Association of Bangladesh (LFMEAB) and Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA).
He also attended a seminar that was organized to implicate Bangladeshi garments, fabric and leather manufacturers and to let them aware of the latest trends and colours in Europe.
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