Japan External Trade Organisation (Jetro) has taken an initiative to assist Bangladesh footwear industry in expanding its market to Japan.
Under a short-term assistance programme, Jetro has offered to provide Bangladesh with technical assistance for 10 footwear factories to enhance their competitiveness in terms of quality production.
The Japanese external trade wing made the offer in a letter addressed to the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) recently, seeking a list of top 10 footwear manufacturers and their annual turnover through export.
Following the overtures, the EPB wrote to 13 top footwear companies requesting them to send in the requisite information.
Of the 13 companies, eight replied accordingly to the EPB to receive the assistance from Japan that has got improved technology of footwear industry.
The companies are Apex Footwear Limited, Jennies Shoes Limited, Pickard Bangladesh Limited, Tropical Shoe Industries Limited, Lalmai Footwear Limited, Latherex Footwear Industries Limited, Surma Leather and Footwear Industries Limited and Toras Hued and Skin Limited.
Sources in the EPB said that they would forward the list of the footwear companies to the Jetro shortly.
When contacted, a Jetro official said Japan wants to promote Bangladeshi footwear industry as the country can produce price- competitive and quality finished products.
"The proposed project will be a completely short-term project that may be extended or not. Under the project, technical assistance will be provided to the local industries," he said.
Bangladesh crossed the foreign currency exchange-earning target of US$ 86 million through export of footwear items in 2004-2005 fiscal year fetching 87.55 million dollars.
