ISLAMABAD – Orientation Workshop held in connection with Pakistan Mega Leather Show 2015 was held by the EU-funded “Pakistan Leather Competitiveness Improvement Program (PLCIP)” under European Union’s Trade Related Technical Assistance Programme which aims to improve the overall value chain in the leather product sector of Pakistan.
Project Director of PLCIP, Usman H.Malik said although Pakistan is a strong international player in the leather apparel and accessories sector (including leather clothing accessories and gloves) controlling 7.6pc of the world trade; in the footwear sector, which is 73pc of the overall global leather industry, Pakistan has only had a negligible share for the past several years.
The workshop was also addressed by Bernard Francois, Head of Cooperation, Delegation of the European Union (EU) to Pakistan. The purpose of this Orientation Workshop was to give an introduction to Pakistan’s leather industry to the international community and donors, and to invite them for the Pakistan Mega Leather Show 2015, which is being hosted in Lahore on 6th -8th March, 2015.
“The leather sector is an important sector in Pakistan, due to its size on economic footprint, employment, and potential for value creation. Despite being an export earner, the leather sector has trivial share in global trade of value added goods and products. In wake of the current relaxation/ incentives given by the EU, which includes the GSP+ status for Pakistan, the value added leather sector needs to seize the opportunity and further develop the sector to become an even greater export earner for Pakistan. Pakistan is lagging behind other regional players, and there is an imminent need to make the leather sector more competitive in the international market’’ said Bernard Francois.
