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Bangladesh’s leather goods sector is
uniquely situated to not only contribute significantly to the
country’s economic growth, but also to enhance its international
image as a producer of high quality, world class consumer goods.
Bangladesh produces between two and three
percent of the world's leather, with an average annual output
estimated at 150 million sq. ft. Most of this production is from
domestic livestock, which is estimated to comprise 1.8 percent of
the world's cattle stock and 3.7 percent of its goat stock.
Bangladesh’s leather has a good reputation internationally and
foreign direct investment in both the production of leather goods
and of tanning chemicals is significant.
In the last five years the country’s
leather industry has grown substantially, with the fastest grown
experienced in firms producing for export markets. This growth is
fueled by the abundance of raw materials available locally and
cheaply, by the large pool of inexpensive labor, by workers eager to
improve their skills, and by tariff concessions to major importing
countries. Bangladesh could become a major off shore location for
the production of low cost, high quality leather products. During
the last three years JOBS has assisted a number of small and
medium-sized industries to raise their production and improve the
skills of their workers and the design of their products by bringing
in foreign experts and consultants. Products produced by these firms
enjoy ever-increasing demand in international markets, particularly
in the large Japanese market.
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