Two new leather complexes

It is good to know that the government is going to set up two new leather industrial estates, one in Chittagong and another in Rajshahi divisions, to boost the leather industry. These two more industrial zones, once completed, will certainly promote the country's leather sector as the Prime Minister Shesikh Hasina observed while she was inaugurating the three-day ‘Bangladesh Leather, Footwear and Leather Goods International Sourcing Show—2017’ Friday. The commerce ministry and the Leather Goods and Footwear Manufacturers' and Exporters' Association of Bangladesh (LFMEAB) have jointly organised the event at the International Convention Centre in Dhaka’s Bashundhara (ICCB).

Leather industry has immense potential to generate much-needed employment as well as the export earning of the country and leather has been announced as the ‘Product of the Year’ for 2017. Undoubtedly, as is expected, setting-up of two new leather complexes can draw local and foreign investment to the sector if the government is able to provide adequate necessary facilities. For attracting both local and foreign investment, adequate infrastructure facilities of all kinds have to be provided to the business people.  

But we have much to learn lesson from our experience of having the tannery industry of Hajaribag in the capital. Leather industries heavily pollute the environment, if their poisonous chemical wastes are not properly treated.  We all know what the presence of tanneries at Hajaribag brought to the river Buriganga: it was just gasping for survival and it still is. The relocation of tanneries to newly built Savar leather industrial zone, according to observers, has largely improved the condition of the Buriganga river. This zone at Savar has also needs to be well facilitated to remove wastes safely.

With the increase in animal slaughter, the countries leather industry will grow and expand. As the industry has huge potential, there is the necessity of promoting the industry through incentives and it is expected that the government would very positively decide to continue giving 15 per cent cash incentive to the businessmen for the next five years.

For achieving USD 5 billion export earnings from the leather, leather goods and the footwear sector as part of the USD 60 billion overall export earnings as has been envisaged in Vision 2021 by the government, it is necessary to give a push to the sector and the two new industrial complexes at Chittagong and Rajshahi can give this desired momentum.  

 

 

Two new leather complexes

It is good to know that the government is going to set up two new leather industrial estates, one in Chittagong and another in Rajshahi divisions, to boost the leather industry. These two more industrial zones, once completed, will certainly promote the countrys leather sector as the Prime Minister Shesikh Hasina observed while she was inaugurating the three-day Bangladesh Leather, Footwear and Leather Goods International Sourcing Show2017 Friday. The commerce ministry and the Leather Goods and Footwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association of Bangladesh (LFMEAB) have jointly organised the event at the International Convention Centre in Dhakas Bashundhara (ICCB). Leather industry has immense potential to generate much-needed employment as well as the export earning of the country and leather has been announced as the Product of the Year for 2017. Undoubtedly, as is expected, setting-up of two new leather complexes can draw local and foreign investment to the sector if the government is able to provide adequate necessary facilities. For attracting both local and foreign investment, adequate infrastructure facilities of all kinds have to be provided to the business people. But we have much to learn lesson from our experience of having the tannery industry of Hajaribag in the capital. Leather industries heavily pollute the environment, if their poisonous chemical wastes are not properly treated. We all know what the presence of tanneries at Hajaribag brought to the river Buriganga: it was just gasping for survival and it still is. The relocation of tanneries to newly built Savar leather industrial zone, according to observers, has largely improved the condition of the Buriganga river. This zone at Savar has also needs to be well facilitated to remove wastes safely. With the increase in animal slaughter, the countries leather industry will grow and expand. As the industry has huge potential, there is the necessity of promoting the industry through incentives and it is expected that the government would very positively decide to continue giving 15 per cent cash incentive to the businessmen for the next five years. For achieving USD 5 billion export earnings from the leather, leather goods and the footwear sector as part of the USD 60 billion overall export earnings as has been envisaged in Vision 2021 by the government, it is necessary to give a push to the sector and the two new industrial complexes at Chittagong and Rajshahi can give this desired momentum.