The two leather clusters of NWFP in Charsadda and Bannu joined hands for taking benefit of the expertise of each other for the development of the sector in the respective areas. The two clusters were brought close to each other on the initiative of Small & Medium Enterprises Development Authority (Smeda), which arranged an exposure meeting for both clusters.
The delegation of Footwear manufacturers of Charsadda comprised of three representatives from Chappal Makers Association, Principal Footwear Institute (FTI) and Anwar Iqbal, Regional Business Centre (RBC) Smeda, Bannu.
The objective of the said visit was to enlighten representatives of Charsadda Leather Cluster about services, facilities and type of products produced in Small Industrial Development Board (SIDB) established Leather Goods Services Centre, Bannu. The delegation visited the Leather Goods Services Centre and SANA Leather Goods and examined the facilities and leather products manufactured in Bannu.
The Bannu Leather Cluster has exported in manufacturing leather goods, including leather dairies, guns covers, ladies hand bags, gents hand bags, jewellery boxes and many other small items.
The delegates were also briefed in detail about types of leather purchased, machine and hand cutting, issuance of leather from store to production side and time frame observed during new order and volume of leather available at store.
They were also briefed on the manufacturing of different leather products and were practically demonstrated by workers. In the light of the meeting facilitated by the Smeda the representatives of both clusters had agreed to share their expertise with each other and now the Charsadda cluster will extend help to Bannu in the development of the footwear sector while Bannu will reciprocate in the development of other leather products.
The representatives from both clusters after detailed exchange of views proposed a comprehensive training of 3-6 months both at Charsadda and Bannnu Leather clusters regarding modern production processes, leather wastages utilisation and business management. The training will help add value to the skills of existing workforce at leather clusters in Bannu and Charsadda will also help develop new practically trained workforce for the industry.-PR