The leathergoods makers and exporters association has decided to organise its recently concluded international sourcing show every year, as the event has received warm responses from the global buyers.Md Saiful Islam, president of Leather-goods and Footwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association of Bangladesh (LFMEAB), shared the information after successfully organising Bangladesh Leather Footwear and Leathergoods International Sourcing Show (BLLISS) 2017 in the capital’s International Convention City Bashundhara.On November 16, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the three-day show jointly organised by the commerce ministry and LFMEAB. Buyers, brands and business leaders from more than 20 countries, including China, India, Vietnam and Thailand, took part in the show.BLLISS 2017 has positively been highlighted in global industry magazines such as ModaPelle, International Leather Maker, Leatherage, and World Footwear Magazine, which bolstered Bangladesh brand image, the LFMEAB said in a statement yesterday.BLLISS has been instrumental to change the mindset of the foreigners about Bangladesh’s leathergoods and footwear and help in attracting new buyers, Islam said in the statement.The leathergoods exporters have to sell country first and then the product, Syed Manzur Elahi, chairman of Apex Footwear Ltd, said in BLLISS Networking Dinner at the event.Under the factory visit segment of BLLISS 2017, different brands and buyers visited leathergoods and footwear factories and were introduced with practices of production and management and overall culture of manufacturing and exporting in Bangladesh.“Some of the Bangladeshi factories are even much better than that of factories in Italy,” said William Wong, president of the Federation of Hong Kong Brands.As a potential investment relocation country, Bangladesh is being considered as emerging country in global footwear export market, Wong said.“BLLISS event was organised for the first time and it did show the professionalism in all aspects,” said Rachid Maliki, general manager for supply chain and procurements at RM Williams.“I talked to a few guests and the general feeling was very positive.”Around 70 international dignitaries, including business leaders of 16 footwear associations from Asian countries, visited BLLISS 2017.“BLLISS will help us to explore new avenues for business and overall growth of the leather industry,” said M Rafeeque Ahmed, former chairman of the Council for Leather India.
