The first industry-specific association in South Asia -- the Leather Industry Association of South Asia (LIASA) -- has been initiated following the regional industry consultation organised by UNCTAD in Chennai, India earlier this month.
The consultation was hosted by the Council of Leather Exports (CLE) of India and the Federation of Indian Small and Medium Enterprises (FISME) in Chennai, India, on 3 -4 September, and was attended by leading policy makers, association heads, exporters and other stakeholders in the leather industry from Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.
The meeting considered the study by UNCTAD's Economic Cooperation and Integration among Developing Countries unit on regional supply chains in the leather industry in South Asia, which was completed under a project on "Development-Oriented Integration in South Asia" funded by the Asian Development Bank and the Commonwealth Secretariat.
Taking up the proposal in the study regarding the desirability of establishing a regional industry association to serve as a catalyst to further regional supply chains and boost cooperation and competitiveness of the leather industry in the region, a working group was formed to discuss the role and structure of such a regional association.
It was decided that the new regional association should be named the Leather Industry Association of South Asia -- LIASA. Registration of the association will be done before the end of this year.
The regional industry association, among other things, can provide an important platform for the region in voicing common interests and concerns in international fora. It can also promote technology sharing and enhance trust and confidence within the region.
UNCTAD's study also suggested a ¨regional investment agreement” be concluded to promote much needed intra-regional investments, especially in the leather industry. This idea is also expected to be pursued in due course.
