Roundtable on “Sustainable Growth and Our Time to Be Responsible” on World Leather Day.
On the important and meaningful day when the entire leather and leather products industry celebrates the annual “World Leather Day” on April 26th, Bangladesh Leather – Beyond the Surface: Our Time to Be Visible, Loud and Responsible”. The event was held at the Dhaka Tannery Industrial Estate Waste Treatment Plant Company Ltd (DTIEWTPCL) conference hall and brought together a cross-section of industry leaders, technologists, academics and development partners under one roof.
The session was chaired by Mr. Golam SHAHNEWAZ, Managing Director of DTIEWTPCL who highlighted the critical role of environmental sustainability, operational compliance and collaborative industry growth in taking the Bangladesh leather industry to new heights.
The session was graced by Chief Guest Mr. Shahin AHMED, President of Bangladesh Tanners Association (BTA). In his speech, Mr. Ahmed strongly emphasized the importance of unity among stakeholders such as tannery owners, manufacturers, chemical suppliers, policy makers and allied service providers to overcome shared challenges and seize new opportunities in the global market.
Adding depth to the discussion, Special Guests included Mr. Salauddin Mahmud Khan, Chief Production Officer, APEX Tannery Ltd. who highlighted the need for efficiency and modernization in the production process to ensure sustainable growth and competitiveness on the global stage. Mr. Tariqul Islam Khan, Managing Director of MARSONS Tannery Ltd. called for a positive narrative of Bangladesh’s leather sector, highlighting its growing adaptability, skilled workforce and contribution to the national economy.
The roundtable was further enriched by the active participation of academics, leather chemists, technologists, development sector representatives, chemical company officials and members from various professional organizations. These diverse voices shared valuable insights on topics ranging from innovation and value addition to brand strategies, supply chain efficiencies, workforce development and environmental management.
In his speech, Mr. Shahnewaz said, “The global leather market is evolving rapidly. If Bangladesh wants to secure its rightful place, we must showcase our strengths and take responsibility for sustainable practices. It is time to be visible, vocal and responsible.”
The roundtable concluded with a joint commitment from all participants to work towards
- Increasing Bangladesh’s visibility as a compliant and quality producer of leather goods,
- Becoming more vocal about the industry’s achievements and capabilities, and
- Ensuring responsibility towards environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards.
This event reflects Footwear Exchange’s ongoing mission to foster dialogue, promote knowledge sharing and support the holistic development of Bangladesh’s leather and footwear industries.
For more information: afsa@footwearexchange.com
