Pakistan appoints US leather consultancy
27/11/2008
The leather industry in Pakistan has engaged a US consultancy, JE Austin & Associates, to help it formulate a new development strategy for the sector. A leather industry expert from the firm has already visited tanneries in Karachi, Lahore and Sialkot to get first hand information on the way the industry works in these areas.
An official of Pakistan's Small and Medium Enterprises Developement Authority (SMEDA) told leatherbiz.com that the process of putting the strategy together will be complete by April, 2009. No overseas funding is involved in this project; it is fully funded by government of Pakistan.
JE Austin has been hired after a competitive bidding process by SMEDA to undertake this task, he added, as part of wider plans that the government has to develop the leather and sports goods sectors. SMEDA sought proposals last year (see leatherbiz.com June 6, 2007) to support development of Leather and Sports Goods sectors in Pakistan.
The overall purpose is to improve the long-term competitiveness of the leather sector in Pakistan in world markets, boosting exports. The initiative will seek to combine the efforts of the public and private sectors, with an emphasis on transferring skills, networks, tools, working methods, joint ventures, technical collaboration and so on.
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