'Highlights on Bangladesh' featured products from a country less well known than it ought to be. Mr. Saiful Islam, President of the Leathergoods and Footwear Manufacturers & Exporters Association of Bangladesh, explains that their target markets are very much in the middle to upper level. There is good cause for this due to several factors. One is that the local leather comes from 'organic' cattle: those raised naturally and without steroids or growth hormones. The result is hides and skins with exceptionally good grain pattern and few blemishes, says Mr. Islam. There is also an abundant supply of skilled but inexpensive labour and a determined campaign by both the government and the industry to maintain a high level of training.
There is also the fact that Bangladesh enjoys Preferential Treatment in several key markets such as the EU, Canada, Japan and Australia.
Eleven Bangladesh companies exhibited their design and craftsmanship in Fashion Access. They included footwear exhibits from Apex Footwear Ltd, Jennys Shoes Ltd, Learherex Footwear Ind Ltd, Tropical Shoe Ind Ltd, Bay Footwear Ltd, Vannara Corporation Ltd, Landmark Footwear Ltd, and Rimex Footwear Ltd; leathergoods from Picard Bangladesh Ltd, RMM Leather Ind Ltd and Anowaral Leather Bagex. The Bangladesh pavilion doubled its exhibiting area over March, 2006.
Dr. A.B. Mirza Md Azizul Islam, from the Ministry of Finance, Planning, Commerce, Posts & Telecommunications of Bangladesh said, "Bangladesh is endowed with abundant high quality cow hides and goat skins, and a competitive labour force. We invite investors to see for themselves the opportunities in the leathergoods and footwear sector of Bangladesh."
AFM Goudal Azam Sarker, Consul General of Bangladesh in Hong Kong, added that Fashion Access provided a great opportunity and impetus to the leather, footwear and leather fashion industry of Bangladesh for faster expansion, resulting from solid business contacts with European and American buyers.
