Thrust on balanced policy for leather industry
Sunday, 1 July 2007
Country's leather industry can grow into one of the biggest labour-intensive industrial sectors, employing 0.4 million people, if its total production potential is enacted, experts in the field said Saturday, reports UNB.
They expect an annual export earning amounting to some Tk 120 billion (12,000 crore) from this sector, as market for finished leather has expanded to all the major countries of the East and the West.
The projections came from a seminar on 'Leather and Leather Goods: An Emerging Sector', organised by the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry in the FBCCI conference room.
Planning Commission (Infrastructure Division) Member Muhammad Abdul Mazid addressed the function as chief guest while Tipu Sultan, Chairman of Bangladesh Finished Leather and Leather Goods and Footwear Exporters' Association (BFLLGFEA), was special guest.
FBCCI Vice-President Dewan Sultan Ahmed presided over the function while Business Promotion Council Coordinator and Joint Secretary of Commerce Ministry Ghulam Hussain presented the keynote paper. The FBCCI vice-president stressed the need for formulating an "integrated and balanced policy for development of this thrust industry".
Abdul Mazid observed that the leather sector is an emerging sector in the country because it has more value addition and also more scope for improvement. "This sector is less risky than the ready made garment sector as its improvement potentiality is higher," he said.
He said the leather industry should be relocated to Savar-- from its mushroom hub at Hazaribagh in the city-- with the facility of 'one-stop service' to ensure catering all utilities from one centre.
The BFLLGFEA chairman said the leather and leather goods sector is one of the major sources of export income of the country, and it is playing an important role in the national economy.
They expect an annual export earning amounting to some Tk 120 billion (12,000 crore) from this sector, as market for finished leather has expanded to all the major countries of the East and the West.
The projections came from a seminar on 'Leather and Leather Goods: An Emerging Sector', organised by the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry in the FBCCI conference room.
Planning Commission (Infrastructure Division) Member Muhammad Abdul Mazid addressed the function as chief guest while Tipu Sultan, Chairman of Bangladesh Finished Leather and Leather Goods and Footwear Exporters' Association (BFLLGFEA), was special guest.
FBCCI Vice-President Dewan Sultan Ahmed presided over the function while Business Promotion Council Coordinator and Joint Secretary of Commerce Ministry Ghulam Hussain presented the keynote paper. The FBCCI vice-president stressed the need for formulating an "integrated and balanced policy for development of this thrust industry".
Abdul Mazid observed that the leather sector is an emerging sector in the country because it has more value addition and also more scope for improvement. "This sector is less risky than the ready made garment sector as its improvement potentiality is higher," he said.
He said the leather industry should be relocated to Savar-- from its mushroom hub at Hazaribagh in the city-- with the facility of 'one-stop service' to ensure catering all utilities from one centre.
The BFLLGFEA chairman said the leather and leather goods sector is one of the major sources of export income of the country, and it is playing an important role in the national economy.