Leathergoods and Footwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association of Bangladesh (LFMEAB) on Thursday demanded immediate relocation of tannery units to the new leather industrial state of Savar to meet buyers’ compliance requirements. The association also sought sustainable and necessary policy support from the government for helping promote the country’s leather goods and footwear manufacturing industry. The demands were made at a launching ceremony of LFMEAB business promotion brochure unveiling the investment prospects in the Bangladesh leather sector and attract foreign direct investment (FDI), held at a city restaurant. The programme was a joint collaboration of government, donors and the association of the manufacturers. Senior secretary of Ministry of Commerce Hedayetullah Al Mamun, Additional Secretary of Ministry of Industries Sushen C Das, President of the Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dhaka (MCCI) Syed Nasim Manzur , President of LFMEAB Md Saiful Islam, Project Director of Bangladesh Inspired Kazi Roushan Ara and representatives of the international donor agencies, among others, were present in the programme. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Mamun said, after readymade garments (RMG) sector, the leather sector has huge potential in the global export market. He said the first-ever investment brochure of the sector will help attract FDI to the sector and the entrepreneurs should act now by developing green manufacturing facilities for the success of the sector through grabbing the global demand with diversified value added leather products. The MCCI president said despite having huge potentials, the local footwear and leather goods sector still lacks innovation in production process and product development. He also laid emphasis on building a positive brand image of the sector as well as the country in the global arena. “Bangladesh leather tanning industry meets 1.13 per cent of the global leather raw materials demand with the industry consisting of 200 tanneries, 3500 MSME’s, 2500 footwear making units and 90 large firms. Ten per cent of the world’s total leather demand is met by Bangladesh by employing 0.85 million people. It will reach $ 5 billion annual export by year 2020,” Mr Manzur added. “The Savar industrial state will help uphold the sector’s image abroad and attract more FDI to Bangladesh,” Mr Sushen C Das said. The LFMEAB president said Bangladesh produces 300 million square feet of leather per annum and global investors need to know the status of the leather sector as well as the country’s entrepreneurs.
