Leather sector has $5bn export potential: Commerce secretary

Commerce Secretary Md Zafar Uddin has said the country will be able to earn over $5 billion by exporting leather and leather products annually, if it can make full use of its capabilities in the sector. 

"Leather is a potential sector in Bangladesh. We have raw materials and skilled manpower. There is a huge demand for leather and leather products in different countries," he explained.

The commerce secretary was speaking as chief guest at the inaugural function of the "Linkage Workshop on Leather Sector" under the Ministry of Commerce's Export Competitiveness for Jobs (ECforJ) project at Hotel 71 in Dhaka on Thursday.

Bangladesh is set to graduate to the status of a developing country from a least developed one, he mentioned, adding that the LDC graduation will bring in major challenges for the country in the field of trade hence the country should have preparations for that. 

"There is no alternative to increasing efficiency in exports. We need to increase the number of export products as well as expand the international market. For this, all concerned should work with sincerity."

"The government is providing all necessary assistance. Work is underway to make all those involved in the industry efficient. Huge employment opportunities will be created in all these sectors and exports will increase," he added.