Italian ambassador to Pakistan Stefano Pontecorvo is expected to inaugurate 6th Pakistan Mega Leather Show on Monday, which is scheduled to be at Int’l Expo Centre, Lahore from 27-29th January’2020.
This was disclosed at a media briefing jointly organized by Pakistan Footwear Manufacturers Association (PFMA) & Pakistan Tanners Association (PTA) with allied stakeholders of the Leather Sector of Pakistan on January 25. It was attended/addressed Muhammad Younas Chairman PFMA; Sh. Afzal Hussain Chairman PTA; Fazal Ur Rehman Sheikh, SVC, PTA (Central); Muhammad Musaddiq; Mansoor Ehsan Sheikh, Agha Saiddain former Chairman of PTA and Zahid Hussain.
Muhammad Younas Chairman PFMA said that a five years’ development plan for footwear industry in being planned to achieve a target of US$ one billion and for that the shoemaking industry needs to develop in accordance with the global trends through technology adoption. Government support and industry adoption are also crucial to increase the exports and Pakistan’s share in global footwear, he said.
He expressed hope that Pakistan is likely to earn US$ 140 million by the end of this financial year and further added “Presently, our exports merely stand at 0.1 percent in the world’s total market size of almost $142 billion”.
He pointed out that Pakistan was the 8th largest producer of footwear in the world, providing employment to more than one million people. Pakistan has great potential to enhance its export and could further generate employment in the country if the government seriously helped out the footwear sector.
Sh. Afzal Hussain Chairman PTA has urged upon government to support leather industry, which is consistently showing declining trend in exports for the last couple of years.
He proudly said, Pakistan produces finest quality of leather after Italy and can perform well provided government removes all irritants and announce long terms policy for leather industry.
He said that over 40 international leading buyers are expected to attend 6th PMLS in addition to local buyers and industry stakeholders.
The participants are likely to display entire range of Leather Sector of Pakistan including Finished leather of all sorts, cow, buffalo hides, sheep goat skins, Leather footwear, Leather Garments, Leather Gloves and allied products with Tanning Chemicals & Tanning Machineries as well to local businessmen/traders/exporters to have ties/collaborations/joint ventures with the foreign participants/companies under one roof.
This year the total number of stands/participation would be around are 500 Nos in Both Hall # 2 & 3, which are higher 25% as compared to previous years participation and accommodating by PTA & PFMA for participation of domestic businessmen/exporters/traders & foreign participants coming from Italy, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Slovenia, China, Turkey, Hong Kong USA, UK, Indonesia and many more countries.