ZCZC
BSS-12
HUMAYUN-TANNERY-INDUSTRY
Govt works to attain LWG certification: Humayun
DHAKA, Dec 2, 2019 (BSS) – Industries Minister Nurul Majid Mahmud
Humayun today said the government is not accepting any irregularities or
deviations in the leather industry for attaining the certification of Leather
Working Group (LWG) aimed at increasing export of leather and leather goods.
“Our leather and leather goods export is not rise in an expected level
as there is no LWG certification in favor of domestic leather products.
Considering this fact, under the direction of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina,
the Industries Ministry has already shifted all tannery factories from
Hazaribagh to environmentally friendly Savar Tannery Industrial Estate
(STIE),” he said.
The minister said this while speaking as the chief guest at the
inaugural session of a workshop on ‘Leather and Leather Products Development
Policy 2019′ at the Economic Reporters’ Forum (ERF) auditorium in the city.
Industries Ministry and ERF jointly organised the workshop for
developing the country’s second largest export earning sector.
State Minister for Industries Kamal Ahmed Mojumder and ERF President
Saiful Islam Dilal attended the workshop as special guests while Industries
Secretary Md Abdul Halim was in the chair.
Humayun said the government has a target to export leather and leather
goods worth of US$5 billion by 2021 whereas last year’s receipts amounted to
$1.2 billion. “Since the acquisition of LWG certification is one of the
prerequisites for increasing exports of leather and leather goods, so our
government will not tolerate any irregularities or deviations in the leather
industry,” he added.
The minister informed that the Dhaka Tannery Industrial Estate
Management Company Limited has already been formed to facilitate the smooth
management of the leather industry in Savar.
He said the government is working to build a sustainable, environment-
friendly and complaint leather industrial sector and so the government is
providing all sorts of policy supports to the concerned entrepreneurs.
“We have formulated the ‘Leather and Leather Products Development Policy
2019’ to achieve the huge potentialities in the leather sector. As per the
policy, necessary steps are being taken to develop the industry,” he added.
Kamal Mojumder said under the directive of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina,
the government is working to take forward the country’s leather industry. “We
are working to produce leather and leather goods by maintaining the
international standard. Leather industry will play a vital role to achieve
the Vision-2021,” he added.
Abdul Halim urged all stakeholders of the leather sector to work
together for developing the country’s tannery industry and attaining the
target of $5 billion export.
Additional Secretary of the Industries Ministry Begum Parag delivered
the welcome speech while ERF General Secretary SM Rashidul Islam delivered
the vote of thanks.
At the panel discussion, Industries Secretary Md Abdul Halim presented a
paper on ‘Challenges of the Bangladesh’s Leather and Leather Goods Industry
and Overcoming strategy of the Government’ while Managing Director of the
Austan Limited Ibnul Yousuf and Dhaka University Professor Dr Md Abu Eusuf
were presented another two papers.
BSS/ASG/KUC/FI/ 1555 hrs