At a recent presentation made by Messe Dusseldorf in Karachi, German Consul General, Verena Grafin von Rodern, urged Pakistani leather goods manufacturers to increase their presence on the global market by participating in more international fairs and exhibitions. Mrs von Rodern added that Pakistan already produces high quality leather, and if manufacturers can improve this further and still compete on price with rivals such China then the country could increase its share of the market.
At the meeting, Peter Kern, a consultant from Messe Düsseldorf, gave a presentation on leather footwear imports and exports in Pakistan. Commenting that China and Vietnam are dominating the world’s footwear market through cheaper products, he said that Pakistan needs to develop its footwear industry in a more appropriate way to increase its market share, by means of marketing its quality footwear at fairs and exhibitions.
Chairman of the Pakistan Leather Garments Manufacturers’ and Exporters’ Association (PLGMEA), Fawad Ijaz Khan stated that Pakistan’s leather goods’ industry has vast potential in the international market, but the problem of producers continuing to export finished leather rather than focusing on value-added goods is affecting the leather goods industry.
