Prime Minister's Private Industry and Investment Affairs Adviser Salman F Rahman Wednesday said that the factories of those Industries which are not complaint would not be able to sell their products in the domestic market in future.
He also said that like Accord and Alliance in the RMG sector, a body would be formed for the domestic Industries to ensure that those follow strictly the compliance issues while the government would extend long-term financing and loans to those Industries for becoming compliant.
Salman came up with such observations at a webinar tilted ‘Reviving the Leather Sector in the Aftermath of COVID-19’ as the chief guest jointly organized by the Economic Reporters’ Forum (ERF), Research Policy Integration for Development (RAPID) and The Asia Foundation (TAF) held today through Zoom Platform.
Speakers at the webinar stressed the need for ensuring compliance in the local industries especially in the leather sector industries to become more competitive.
Former Advisor to the Caretaker Government Syed ManzurElahi joined it as the guest of honor. Commerce Secretary TapanKantiGhosh, Chairman, BFLLFEA Mohiuddin Ahmed Mahin and Chairman, BTA MdShaheenAhamed joined it as the special guests.
Professor & Director, ILET, DU Dr. M MizanurRahman, Managing Director, DTIEWTPCL (TIED) Brig. Gen. M ZahidHasan and The President, Tannery Workers’ Union AbulKalam Azad attended the webinar as panel discussants.
Managing Director of Apex Footwear LtdSyed NasimManzur, Chairman of RAPID Dr. Mohammad Abdur Razzaque and its Executive Director Dr. Abu Eusuf jointly presented the keynote paper.
Country Representative, The Asia Foundation Kazi Faisal Bin Seraj delivered the welcome remarks.
ERF President Sharmeen Rinvy chaired the event while ERF General Secretary S M Rashidul Islam moderated the event.
Salman also suggested for forming organizations like Accord and Alliance to strictly make domestic Industries complaint adding that if the domestic Industries do not become compliant, then it would be ensured that these Industries could not sell their products in the market.
"We'll have to make the environment of the Industries compliant, this is something we're thinking seriously and we'll work on improving domestic compliance," he added.
Commerce Secretary TapanKantiGhosh said that the leather sector Industries should have to produce quality products through addressing the environmental and labour rights issues.
"If they can make products through addressing such issues, then there is no reason for not increasing exports in this sector," he said hoping that this leather sector would move forward through keeping its growth trend.
Syed ManzurElahi suggested for forming a task force in this leather sector to look at the recommendations from different stakeholders and work on the betterment of the leather sector Industries as well as giving due priority to making fully functional the CETP in Savar as per the LWG standard.
Brig Gen M ZahidHasan said that they are confident and optimistic to overcome all the challenges before this sector with the support of all concerned stakeholders.
Country Representative of UNIDO and ZakiUzZaman said that they are very much interested to work in the leather sector of Bangladesh.
Chairman, BFLLFEA Mohiuddin Ahmed Mahin said that if their former tannery factory areas in Hazaribagh is made free with sincere efforts from RAJUK, then they would be able to repay their bank loans.
Chairman of BTA MdShaheenAhamed said that the allocation of loans from the state owned commercial banks every year is insufficient for procuring raw hides while the rawhide management should be further improved with the integrated approach from the Ministry of Industries, Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock.
