Bangladesh PM announces plan for leather industry zones in Chittagong, Rajshahi

Bangladesh plans for two new zones for the leather industry in an effort to spread it out from the zone, now on the outskirts of capital Dhaka.

Senior Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 16 Nov 2017, 08:42 AM
Updated : 16 Nov 2017, 08:42 AM

The country’s lone leather industry has been shifted recently to a newly-developed zone in Savar after it grew over the last six decades inside Dhaka city’s Hazaribagh.

“We are now considering two more industrial zones in Rajshahi and Chittagong,” Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said on Thursday, as she inaugurated a trade expo organised jointly by the commerce ministry and trade bodies. 

The ‘Bangladesh Leather, Footwear and Leather Goods International Sourcing Show’ will be held at the International Convention Centre at Dhaka’s Bashundhara until Saturday.

Hasina said an environment-friendly leather industrial zone has been set up in Savar for the growth of the sector and saving the Buriganga River.

She said most of the tannery industries in Hazaribagh were relocated to Savar.

“Measures are being taken so that supporting industries can flourish around the zone.”

The government plans to continue the 15 percent cash incentive for leather exports for the next five years, said the prime minister.

Bangladesh’s exports from the leather industry in fiscal 2016-17 stood around $1.23 billion, Hasina said. Annual exports are expected to rise to $5 billion by 2021.

Stressing diversification in leather goods, Hasina said the entrepreneurs will have to develop the products and find out new export markets.

"Our products must be of international standards," she said, as she promised necessary support from the government.

"We are moving to set up a testing and calibrating centre to maintain international quality and standards of leather goods and footwear."