Footwear industry gaining momentum in Bhairab
Wednesday, 29 August 2007
Our Correspondent
BRAHMANBARIA, Aug 28: The cottage-based leather footwear factories are gradually gaining momentum in Bhairab under Kishoreganj, as the demand for their products has been increasing in the markets day by day.
The footwear industry was launched in Bhairab in 1930s. From then on many people across the district set up their shoe factories there.
Presently, about 8,000 shoe factories have been set up in the Bhairab municipality area and in seven unions of Bhairab upazila. A huge number of craftsmen and workers are regularly working in these factories day and night, and earning their livelihood, sources said.
The footwear industry of Bhairab has achieved fame and goodwill in making various types of quality products like shoes, sandals and heels etc that are being marketed across the country. These products are delivered to Dhaka and other districts like Chittagong, Narayanganj, Mymensingh, Comilla, Feni, Chandpur, Narsingdi, Sylhet, Hobiganj, Moulvibazar and Sunamganj.
The government also earns a huge amount of revenue from the footwear industry every year, as these products are also being exported to India.
However, the local entrepreneurs have failed to expand the market of their products properly due to lack of adequate working capital, necessary patronisation and marketing facilities.
They can do better if the government and NGOs provide them with sufficient bank loans on flexible terms, and help them procure their required raw materials easily, the sources added.
BRAHMANBARIA, Aug 28: The cottage-based leather footwear factories are gradually gaining momentum in Bhairab under Kishoreganj, as the demand for their products has been increasing in the markets day by day.
The footwear industry was launched in Bhairab in 1930s. From then on many people across the district set up their shoe factories there.
Presently, about 8,000 shoe factories have been set up in the Bhairab municipality area and in seven unions of Bhairab upazila. A huge number of craftsmen and workers are regularly working in these factories day and night, and earning their livelihood, sources said.
The footwear industry of Bhairab has achieved fame and goodwill in making various types of quality products like shoes, sandals and heels etc that are being marketed across the country. These products are delivered to Dhaka and other districts like Chittagong, Narayanganj, Mymensingh, Comilla, Feni, Chandpur, Narsingdi, Sylhet, Hobiganj, Moulvibazar and Sunamganj.
The government also earns a huge amount of revenue from the footwear industry every year, as these products are also being exported to India.
However, the local entrepreneurs have failed to expand the market of their products properly due to lack of adequate working capital, necessary patronisation and marketing facilities.
They can do better if the government and NGOs provide them with sufficient bank loans on flexible terms, and help them procure their required raw materials easily, the sources added.