Govt to seek stakeholder input on leather, footwear roadmap
Draft plan to be published on the commerce ministry website to gather feedback from tanners, manufacturers, and technologists.
Highlights:
- High-level committee formed to oversee leather industry development
- Commerce ministry developing responsible business conduct and national traceability frameworks
- Bangladesh ranks eighth globally in footwear production
The government is preparing an actionable roadmap for the leather and footwear industry and will seek stakeholders' feedback after publishing the draft on the Ministry of Commerce's website, Commerce Secretary Ataur Rahman Khan said today (24 September).
"The roadmap will take into account the practical experience and needs of tannery owners, manufacturers, traders, technologists, and other relevant stakeholders," he said at the inauguration programme of the 10th Bangladesh Leather and Footwear Expo 2026 at the International Convention City Bashundhara (ICCB) in the capital.
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The secretary also said, "The roadmap will identify industry challenges, tap domestic market potential, and help boost exports."
"A high-level committee, chaired by the commerce minister, has been formed to oversee the overall development of the leather industry. The ministry is preparing the action-oriented roadmap following directives from the prime minister," Ataur added.
According to the secretary, Bangladesh has sufficient raw materials for the leather industry, while the capabilities of local technologists have also improved. This creates opportunities to encourage greater use of locally made leather products and increase exports.
Entrepreneurs need government support to meet the requirements and quality standards of international buyers.
The government also needs to provide entrepreneurs with information and support on environmental and social responsibility, technological capabilities, and international market requirements.
"To this end, the commerce ministry is developing a framework for responsible business conduct and a national traceability framework. It also plans to establish separate traceability systems for priority sectors," Ataur said.
The secretary also stressed greater cooperation between industry and educational institutions to strengthen research in the leather sector.
Industry outlook
According to information shared at the event, Bangladesh exports processed leather as well as footwear, travel bags, belts, and wallets. Leather-based products are also exported by local handicraft businesses.
The country has around 5,500 small footwear factories in addition to large manufacturers. Bangladesh is the world's eighth-largest footwear producer and ninth-largest footwear consumer market.
Bangladesh produces an estimated 27 crore square feet of leather annually, most of which is exported, while the rest feeds the domestic leather goods industry.
The country mainly exports leather to Italy, South Korea, Japan, China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.
Domestic demand for footwear is also growing, while local companies are receiving orders from global brands. Several leather and leather goods manufacturers have consequently taken initiatives to expand their businesses.
Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) Chairman Benazir Ahmed attended the event as a special guest. The event was chaired by Bangladesh Tanners Association (BTA) Senior Vice President Sakawat Ullah.
Representatives of the BTA and the Leather Engineers and Technologists Society of Bangladesh, along with local and foreign traders, manufacturers, and technologists, were also present at the programme.
