Bangladesh to set up Leather Industry Development Authority: PM Hasina

The announcement came as she inaugurated the 4th edition of Bangladesh Leather Footwear and Leather Goods International Sourcing Show (BLLISS-2023) in Dhaka.

The government plans to develop tannery industrial estates in more places, including Chattogram and Rajshahi, in phases, she said.

"If we can do it [develop area-based tannery industry], the preservation, processing and use of leather would go up. Because, it will develop as a big industry for us," she was quoted as saying by domestic media reports.

The leather goods and footwear industry has overtaken jute and jute products in export earnings over the last decade, she said. 

“Stepping into a higher value addition level, it has become the second largest export earning sector after the readymade garments,” she said.

“Bangladesh is the world's 8th largest footwear producer, 11th largest consumer and 17th largest (footwear) exporter,” she said.

“If we can produce and export finished products against 100 per cent of our growing supply, we will easily be able to achieve $3 billion export revenue from the leather goods and footwear sector by 2025. I want the overall export earnings from this sector to increase to $10 billion by 2030,” she said.

She also stressed the need to cultivate some indigenous footwear brands of Bangladesh.

Around 150 acres will be there for the development of composite leather products and footwear factories in the expansion project of the Savar Leather Industrial Estate, she added.

The land will be allocated to the members of the Leather goods and Footwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association of Bangladesh on a priority basis for investment.

ALCHEMPro News Desk (DS)