Global buyers of leather goods and footwear are increasingly seeking faster order deliveries, placing higher demands on local manufacturers for prompt responses. Market players emphasize the need to streamline customs procedures and expedite the clearance of goods to support export growth.
Syed Nasim Manzur, President of the Leathergoods and Footwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association of Bangladesh (LFMEAB), highlighted this development in an interview during the 4th Bangladesh Leather Footwear & Leather-goods International Sourcing Show 2023 in Dhaka organized by The Leathergoods and Footwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association of Bangladesh (LFMEAB).
During the three-day event, which aimed to showcase the capabilities of local leather goods and footwear manufacturers, Mr. Manzur emphasized the importance of expediting customs clearance. He mentioned that while they are currently offering deliveries within weeks, customers are increasingly requesting deliveries within hours. Bangladesh exported $1.7 billion worth of leather goods and footwear in the fiscal year 2022-23, with aspirations to boost these exports to $5 billion within the next five years. The country’s leather goods and footwear industry has seen a surge in new factories entering the market, positioning Bangladesh to capture a larger share of the global leather goods market, which has a significant demand, especially in the footwear sector estimated at $175 billion, as per the LFMEAB president.
He noted that the government is committed to reducing bureaucracy and expediting decision implementation, including the formation of the leather development authority, which signifies significant progress for the sector. Additionally, Mr. Manzur urged that the price of the leather goods and footwear must not be reduced if compared with China or other countries, even if the buyers sometimes insists a lot probably due to their mind-set. The exhibition also saw the participation of partners in the leather goods and footwear supply chain, featuring diverse products, including non-synthetic leather bags and new types of footwear. Partners from India, Poland, and South America were also in attendance.
The discussion at the event revolved around integrating the Leather Working Group into the Sustainable Leather Forum (SLF) to involve the local industry in the global value chain. The SLF is the first international event dedicated to corporate social responsibility in the leather industry.
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