Challenges for Sichuan
30/01/2009
Leather industry leaders in the Chinese province of Sichuan have acknowledged that they have a series of important challenges ahead, following the events of last year.
Sichuan is rich in raw hides and pigskin, and plays a leading role in China, and worldwide, on science and research in the leather sector. The leather industry there has been growing fast in recent years.
Nevertheless, 2008 was a difficult year. First the huge earthquake that hit the province on May 12, measuring 8 on the Richter scale, and claiming at least 69,000 lives, inevitably dealt a blow to all industry in Sichuan.
The downturn in the global economy that began to hit China later in the year then brought the leather industry to what officials in Sichuan have described as "a new low".
The focus for 2009 will be on recovery. To this end, the Sichuan leather sector will aim to continue developing a brand strategy and innovation. Local leather enterprises must remain confident, industry leaders have said, adjusting their business plans as necessary, while still developing new products to meed the demands of the market. They said: "We believe in the near future that the Sichuan leather industry can overcome present difficulties to play a leading role in the global leather industry and continue to make a contribution to local economic development."
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