Staff Reporter, Dhaka : Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud voiced hope that the new magazine The Footwear Digest would play an encouraging role in the footwear industry in Bangladesh. He launched the monthly Monday evening at a local posh hotel in Gulshan in the capital.

Md Iqbal Hossain MP, Member of advisory council of the Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies and EnergyPac director Mikail Shipar, BUET Professor Dr Ferdous Sarwar among others spoke as special guests at the function conducted by
Mehdi Mahbub, editor of the monthly.

Dr Hasan, Awami League joint secretary in the chief guest’s speech said, ‘I hope, this monthly will portray the footwear industry, give insights for growth and points to learn more.’ He said, growth of footwear industry is a need of time as it is always better for economy to have more avenues in the export basket.

Minister lauded the industry where more than 200 factories are currently contributing to the 1.3 Billion USD footwear export employing more than 6 lakh people directly or indirectly.

The speakers mentioned that the footwear sector has trade agreements with 31 countries so far and that under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s initiative, government now provides 15% incentives for leather, 4% for non leather, bonded warehouse facilities, equal opportunities for both domestic and foreign Investors. Export credit guarantee scheme, 90% loans against LC and funds for export promotion are also available.