ZCZC
BSS-09
PM-INCENTIVES-LEATHER-2 LAST DHAKA
Stating that the leather goods and footwear industry has become the second
largest export earning sector in the last decade surpassing jute and jute
products’ export earnings, Sheikh Hasina said “This sector attained second
position in the volume of export earning only after the readymade garments.”
The premier called upon the foreign investors and buyers attending the show
to invest in Bangladesh in larger scale, saying “Make investment in
Bangladesh particularly in leather sector as many countries would not be able
to give facilities, Bangladesh is now offering for foreign investors.”
In this regard, she said “Bangladesh offers cheapest labour facilities and
proper training is also being given to them”.
She said the move was taken to boost local and foreign investment in the
leather sector and make it sustainable.
Stressing the need for bringing diversification in leather goods to
increase export, Sheikh Hasina said the entrepreneurs will have to develop
new products and explore new export markets.
In this regard, she assured them of providing necessary assistance from the
government.
The premier said an environment-friendly leather industrial estate has been
set up in Savar for flourishing the leather sector.
Praising the organizers for arranging the show for the third time in the
country, the prime minister said it would attract more foreign investment in
Bangladesh’s leather footwear and leather goods industry sector as well as
create huge enthusiasm among the investors.
“It will also help the entrepreneurs around the world know about the
government’s policy assistance and patronization alongside project quality
and standard of Bangladeshi leather goods and footwear products before the
world community,” she said.
Mentioning that her government has relocated the tannery industries in
Savar from Hazaribagh, Sheikh Hasina said “There will have allocation of at
least 150 acres of land in the extended project of Leather Industry City in
Savar for setting up composite leather products and footwear factories by
following international standards and Leather Working Group (LWG)
certification.”
She however said equal opportunities and policy supports will be ensured
for all export sectors as all discriminatory barriers will be removed.
Sheikh Hasina said her government has created scope so that businesspersons
can do businesses. “The government is not doing business. So, I always
believe that businesspersons will do business,” she added.
The premier said over the last 10 years, Bangladesh economy has
progressed. “We have established a smooth communication network with
neighboring countries where we can find huge markets of our products,” she
said.
One hundred Special Economic Zones are being established to attract local
and foreign investment and 12 of those have already been completed, she said.
“Once the economic zones are completed, huge local and foreign investment
will be attracted,” she opined.
The prime minister went on saying that the government has made constant
stride for country’s industrial development as well as encouraging
agriculture.
Laying importance on enlarging the country’s export basket, the premier
said the government is giving incentives to many sectors to boost export.
She urged the LFMEAB leaders to join hand with the government to achieve
its goal in building Bangladesh as a middle-income country by 2021 and a
developed one by 2041.
Spelling out basic achievements of her government in the last 11 years, the
premier said the world now considers Bangladesh as development miracle.
“Our export revenue was US $ 10.5 billion in FY 2005-06, which increased to
over $46 billion in FY 2018-19 while our per-capita income has surpassed
$1,909 and the GDP growth rate for the current financial year is estimated at
8.2 percent,” she said
Referring to the latest GDP ranking of the IMF, she said “Bangladesh is the
29th largest economic country in the world in terms of PPP.”
Bangladesh ranked the highest growth nation among the countries of Asia and
the Pacific according to the latest figures from the Asian Development Bank,
she informed.
BSS/AHJ/GMR/1405 hrs