Brazil looks to add value to leather exports
The Brazilian Minister of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade, Sergio Amaral, has announced that a programme to stimulate the value of leather will be initiated shortly. The main aim of the scheme will be to increase finished leather and footwear exports.
A pilot programme will be launched in the state of Mato Grosso, which mainly produces wet blue and currently has the third largest herd in the country. It is also where the Special Export Programme (SPE)- designed to replace exports of primary goods with exports of higher added value, thus generating more wealth for the country- has been implemented already. (To see previous story go to leatherbiz.com news search facility and enter 'Mato Grosso'.
Armadeu Fernandes, vice president of strategic management for the Centre for the Brazilian Tanning Industry (CICB), said the SPE should encourage tanners to invest more heavily in finished leather production. He also argued that the project is likely to be implemented medium term as it requires a huge amount of funds.Amaral intends to bring Italian leather professionals to Mato Grosso to train local technicians.
