Fillip for footwear industry

The Export Development Board, Ministry of Industrial Development and the Footwear Association will hold a footwear and leather goods exhibition from November 24-26 at the Sirimavo Bandaranaike Exhibition hall at the BMICH, said Director, Ministry of Industrial Development Ms Manike Tennakoon.

She said the Footwear and Leather industry has been identified as a strategic sector for economic development of the country like the apparel sector.

The Government's policy is to facilitate and encourage establishing a strong industry policy to ensure growth in this sector through competition. Therefore it is essential to go for exports.

In addition to earning valuable foreign exchange this sector can create new job opportunities for unemployed youth in the country.

The background to develop this industry was carried out by the Ministry of Industrial Development and the Export Development Board.

The setting up of a full fledged footwear centre is also on the cards. All this should make our industrialists competitive and enable them to grab the golden opportunities available under the European commission GSP+scheme.

Ms Tennakoon said the main aim of the exhibition is to give recognition locally and internationally to the footwear and leather goods industry in Sri Lanka.

The footwear sector which is similar to the apparel sector does not have such a good recognition yet, she said. The European Union has only provided duty concessions to Sri Lanka among the regional countries.

Hence we have to take the maximum benefits from this opportunity. Another aim of this is to enlighten the relevant parties and to update the small industrialists on other industry related issues.

The Government has taken steps to protect the local footwear industry by increasing the duty by Rs. 300 for a pair of imported shoes to check the import of low quality, low priced shoes to the local market from China and Thailand.

The Ministry together with the FDDI institute in India will train 20 Footwear manufacturing designers and technicians.