Money for Leather: PM assures incentives for 5 years

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Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said financial incentives in the leather sector would continue for at least the next five years to achieve the target of export earnings from the leather goods and footwear industry.

She was addressing the Bangladesh Leather Footwear and Leather Goods International Sourcing Show at the capital’s Bangabandhu International Conference Centre.

Leathergoods and Footwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association of Bangladesh together with the commerce ministry organised the third edition of the show.

The PM said as part of export diversification, the leather and leather goods sector has been defined as a priority sector in Bangladesh’s economy and national industrial development strategy. “For this, various initiatives have been taken to develop the leather and leather footwear industries.”

Barely a decade ago, most of the country’s export earnings in this sector came mainly from exports of leather as a raw material, she mentioned.

Hasina said footwear and leather goods factories have expanded during the last 10 years of successive Awami League governments as they provided incentives and laid out business-friendly policies.

She assured the businessmen of extending all-out cooperation to them in producing diversified products and exporting those to new markets across the world.

“Our government is always active in producing new products and exploring new markets across the world for expanding the export basket. You’ll get all-out support from us in this connection. We can give you this assurance.”

The PM said Awami League, as a government, is not involved in business. It rather creates scope for the businesspeople to do business.

“We’ve given importance to economic diplomacy to introduce importers of the outside world to our leather goods producers. As a result, leather goods have become the second largest export item in the country overtaking the jute items over the last decade.”

Hasina said equal opportunities and policy support would be ensured for all the export sectors. Any prevailing discriminatory barriers would be removed, she added.

She said the government has taken effective steps to resolve the environmental hazards of Hazaribagh and has shifted the tanneries to a modern tannery estate in Savar.

The premier urged foreign buyers and investors to invest in various industries in Bangladesh, especially the leather and leather goods sector.

“At least 150 acres of land will be allocated for the extended project of leather industry city in Savar for setting up composite leather products and footwear factories following international standards and Leather Working Group certification.”

Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi, Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Commerce Ministry Tofail Ahmed, PM’s Private Industry and Investment Adviser Salman Fazlur Rahman, and Leathergoods and Footwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association of Bangladesh President Saiful Islam also spoke on the occasion.

A video presentation was screened at the programme, describing the expansion of the country’s leather industry.

Over 300 exhibitors from nearly 20 countries, including India, China and Pakistan, will exhibit their products at the event, to be held from October 31-November 2 at the International Convention City, Bashundhara.
Source: https://www.thedailystar.net

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