Bangladesh bagged $438 million in export earnings from the footwear sector alone in the last fiscal year and has become the sixth largest footwear and leather goods exporter in the world.Every year, the South Asian nation manufactures 330 million square feet of finished leather and sends abroad around 230 square feet of the product.The information was shared at a press conference at the Westin Dhaka hotel yesterday where organisers announced the schedule of the second edition of Bangladesh Leather Footwear and Leathergoods International Sourcing Show (BLISS) 2018.The three-day show to be organised by the Leathergoods and Footwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association of Bangladesh (LFMEAB) will kick off at International Convention City Bashundharain the capital on November 22. Bangladesh exports leather and leather goods to countries such as China, Italy, the USA, the UK, Germany, Sweden, Taiwan and Japan, Saiful Islam, president of LFMEAB, said at the press meet.The tagline of the event is “Bangladesh: destination next” and objective of BLISS is to brand and position Bangladesh in the global supply chain as the next destination for high value-added leather product, he said. Islam said the purpose of the show is to turn Bangladesh into a sourcing hub by bringing in buyers, global retailers and international sourcing agents at the expo.Efficiency of the Chittagong port should be increased to boost export of leather and leather goods, Kazi Aminul Islam, executive chairman of Bangladesh Investment Development Authority, said at the event.“A port cannot be operated by bureaucrats. It should be handed over to the professionals to reduce lead time of exporters to increase the export volume of the leather sector.”He suggested adoption of modern technologies to stay competitive in the global market.To raise competitiveness, attention should be given to compliance and quality of the leather products along with maintaining low prices, he added.It is a matter of great concern for the environment that the tanneries in Savar have not yet established any solid waste plant in the zone, said Shubhashish Bose, senior secretary of the commerce ministry.“The government is formulating necessary policies and laws to help the sector develop further. Now the entrepreneurs will have to ensure compliance and quality to compete in the global market.”There is no entry fee for the exhibition, which will remain open for the visitors from 10 am to 6 pm.Foreign guests and around 30 brands and buyers from Hong Kong, Germany, Australia, Italy, Japan, France, the USA, the UK, Sweden, India, and Ethiopia will participate in the expo.Sandeep Das, country managing director for Intertek Bangladesh, and Yu Cheng Hsing, managing director of Blue Ocean Footwear, also attended the press meet.
