Business desk :
The government has awarded export permit for wet blue processed leather to five companies considering the global demand for the semi-finished product.
The Ministry of Commerce gave its approval for wet blue hide export, which has been banned in the country since 1989, following recommendations from the Bangladesh Trade and Tariff Commission.
“We gave the permission to five companies. They may export up to 1 crore square feet wet blue hide under certain conditions. From now, these companies will be able to export the item if they receive orders,” Commerce Ministry Additional Secretary (Export) Md Hafizur Rahman said.
When we principally decided to give permission, we asked to the tariff commission for its recommendations. They analysed the present condition of the domestic and international market and concluded that Bangladesh can export the item,” he added.
According to the ministry, Bangladesh’s leather export market has not been in a good shape for the last four years. In the last two years, huge volumes of rawhides were destroyed due to a fall in domestic demand and price. At the same time, huge volumes of rawhides were also smuggled out of the country due to its low price.
Later, the ministry opted to allow export of rawhide and wet blue in a bid to save the industry.
Already, Bangladesh has received orders for rawhide and wet blue from several countries in the European Union and East Asia, including Italy, China and Japan.
