"We have sufficient quantity of leather and also easy market access in developed countries under LDCs' preferential benefit. So let there be collaboration between our two friendly countries [between Bangladesh and India] for mutual benefit", FBCCI President Mir Nasir Hossain said addressing the programme as the chief guest.
The two-day long 'Buyer-Seller Meet cum Exhibition of Indian Footwear Components' kicked off at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre.
Council of Leather Exports of India and Indian High Commission in Dhaka in association with Leather Goods and Footwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association of Bangladesh and Indian Footwear Components and Manufacturers' Association organised the exhibition.
The Daily Star is the media partner of the fair.
The event offered potential Bangladeshi buyers to have a better knowledge about Indian footwear components they might need for their export- oriented footwear industry, said the organisers.
A total of 28 Indian footwear components manufacturing companies with 40 stalls are participating in the fair.
Terming the fair a timely initiative, Mir Nasir Hossain expressed the hope that the occasion would provide an opportunity for Bangladesh and Indian leather goods promotion bodies for technology transfer and investment.
"Since Bangladesh has a huge market for leather goods component, he observed, the exhibition is of special significance to us for capacity building in the footwear component industry".
Speaking at the inaugural session of the programme, Indian High Commissioner in Bangladesh Pinak Ranjan Chakraborty said after the western countries India is the largest export destination of Bangladeshi footwear products.
Better connectivity between the South Asian countries would bring about positive changes in their economic health, said Chakraborty, quoting the Indian premier.
Pointing to the fact that trade deficit would benefit neither India nor Bangladesh economy in the long run, he spoke of some initiatives that India took to enhance trade relationship between the countries.
Indian Footwear Component Manufacturers Association Chairman Sudhir Rustagi said, "We have come to Bangladesh to create a win-win situation for both the sides".
To boost up trade relations between the countries, he emphasised speedy clearance of goods through the ports.
The South Asian Preferential Trade Agreement (Sapta) was mapped out amid great enthusiasm, but we could not make good use of the deal, lamented Saiful Islam, president of the Leather Goods and Footwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association of Bangladesh.
Better infrastructure, equity partnership of local companies with the foreign investors would greatly contribute to bolstering the country's economy, he suggested.
Chairman of Board of Investment Nazrul Islam, Chairman (North) of Council of Leather Exports of India Anil Kumar Sondhi also spoke on the occasion.
