Speaking at a Dhaka Chamber of Commerce & Industry event, Syed Nasim Manzur, President of the Leather Goods and Footwear Manufacturers & Exporters Association of Bangladesh, said the country produces around 350 million square feet of leather every year. Of this, about 40% is collected during the Eid-ul-Azha season.

However, only 20 to 25% is processed locally, mostly for shoes and bags. The rest is exported, with about 65% going through Chinese middlemen offering lower prices than direct international buyers, Manzur explained.

He said the industry faces major challenges, including a lack of proper infrastructure and certifications.

“The Central Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) at Savar is still non-functional, and we do not have critical global certifications like Leather Working Group (LWG) approval. Without these, we cannot enter premium international markets”

Syed Nasim Manzur

The government’s move to cut chemical import duties may bring some short-term relief, but without bigger reforms, the leather industry’s long-term competitiveness remains uncertain.

Source – The Daily Star