Dhaka:The Commerce Ministry is drafting a comprehensive roadmap aimed at addressing the challenges faced by Bangladesh's leather and footwear industry, with the goal of enhancing domestic market engagement and boosting exports, stated Commerce Secretary Ataur Rahman Khan at the 10th Bangladesh Leather and Footwear Expo 2026 held at the International Convention City Bashundhara (ICCB).
According to United News of Bangladesh, the draft roadmap will be published on the ministry's website to solicit feedback from stakeholders. A high-level committee, led by the commerce minister, has been established to oversee the leather sector's development. The roadmap aims to incorporate the experiences and needs of tannery owners, manufacturers, traders, and technologists, following the prime minister's directive.
The roadmap will emphasize the availability of local raw materials and the improved capacity of the country's technologists. The ministry plans to encourage the use of locally produced leather goods and explore opportunities to expand exports internationally. Support will be provided to exporters to help meet buyers' requirements and standards, with a focus on environmental and social compliance, technological capacity, and global market demand.
To facilitate this, the ministry is working on a responsible business conduct framework and a national traceability framework, with plans for separate traceability systems for priority sectors. The roadmap will also address the need for stronger collaboration between the industry and academia to enhance research and connect students and researchers with tannery owners and entrepreneurs.
Bangladesh's leather industry is the second-largest foreign currency earner after the ready-made garment sector, with potential for entering new markets and strengthening its position in existing ones. The country exports processed leather, footwear, travel bags, belts, wallets, and fashion accessories, with many local firms shipping products abroad.
Bangladesh ranks eighth globally in footwear production and ninth as a consumer market, producing approximately 270 million square feet of leather annually, primarily exported to countries such as Italy, South Korea, Japan, China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. The domestic demand for footwear is also rapidly increasing, with local companies receiving production orders from renowned global brands.
The expo, organized by the Bangladesh Tanners Association (BTA), the Leather Engineers and Technologists Society, Bangladesh (LETS'B), and Limra Trade Fairs and Exhibitions Pvt Ltd, will run until September 26 at ICCB, featuring over 250 local and international companies.