Experts at a meeting on Thursday pointed out that tannery relocation without ensuring compliance in TIED especially CETP has contributed to the export losses and unemployment.
The meeting titled, 9th SME Development Working Committee (SMEDWC) Meeting, was organized jointly by the Ministry of Industries (MoI) and BUILD at the conference room of Ministry of Industries.
Zakia Sultana, Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Industries presided over the meeting.
Two policy papers named "Tannery Solid Waste Management: Bi-Products Development & Opportunities for SMEs" and "Revisiting the Potentials of Logistics Sub-sectors in the IP 2022 were presented in the meeting.
While informing the implementation of the last meeting, Ferdaus Ara Begum, CEO, BUILD informed that Bangladesh Bank has introduced a Refinancing Scheme for Environment Friendly products/projects/initiatives for environmentally projects in the fields including Light Engineering, amount of which has been increased from Taka 400 crore to Tk 1000 crore and about 650 projects of 12 sectors for about 70 products have been implemented. Salimullah, Additional Secretary, MoI informed that through BITAC some skill development programmes for light engineering (LE) sector have been initiated. President BEIOA requested for the Sub-contracting Act. Sr. Secretary informed about several steps for supporting LE sector and in regard to Common Facility Centre(CFC) she informed that six more BITAC centers is going to be established in several parts of the country and then CFC support will be strengthened.
In the presentation on Tannery Solid Waste Management, CEO, BUILD briefed about the impacts of tannery relocations without ensuring compliance in TIED specially CETP, including export losses and unemployment. She outlined the types of solid waste generated and proposed management strategies to foster socio-economic benefits for SMEs in TIED. The policy paper recommended for formal recognition of By-products of TSW in the Industrial and SME Policies and provide financial and tax incentives for encouraging businesses in these fields. Md. Golam Shahnewaz, MD of Dhaka Tannery Industrial Waste Treatment Plant Company Ltd., informed that 80% of the TSW is non-Chrome so the waste primarily composed of fleshing, raw trimming, split leather, shavings & buffing dust, crust and finished trimming can be used for producing a number of by- products, however all the SMEs would need to come under a single umbrella.
Nurul Islam, Secretary, BTA suggested that allocation of business among different ministries and divisions would need some reforms as there are a number of new activities are now required for accomplishment such as recycling activities, instead of direct disposal proper solid waste management etc.
