ISLAMABAD: Mega Leather Show 2015 has been scheduled for March 6-8 at the Lahore International Expo Center. The European Union has been assisting Pakistan’s leather industry and is playing vital role in its revival.
This was disclosed by Bernard Francois, Head of Cooperation, Delegation of the European Union (EU) to Pakistan at a workshop held in connection with Pakistan Mega Leather Show 2015.
Though the country 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.
Bernard Francois said during his keynote, “The leather sector is an important sector in Pakistan, due to the size of its economic footprint, employment, and potential for value creation. Despite being an export earner, the leather sector has small 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.”
PTA Chairman Muhammad Musaddiq said that the Pakistan Mega Leather Show will portray a positive image of Pakistan in the world. This event will be a good start to encourage the international buyers to come to Pakistan and to benefit from the tremendous potential that exist in the leather sector of Pakistan.
