Advancing Bangladesh’s Leather Sector: Challenges, Opportunities and Reform

Others

Bangladesh’s leather, footwear and non-leather industries have significant potential to expand exports, generate employment and attract investment ahead of LDC graduation. Realising this potential will require progress in addressing long-standing structural, environmental and regulatory barriers. Prepared following the policy dialogue titled Advancing Bangladesh’s Leather Sector: Challenges, Opportunities and Reform, held on 3 September 2026, this report brings together the perspectives, concerns and recommendations shared by participants.

SANEM Roundup | Volume 1, Issue 8 | October 2026

News

This issue of SANEM Roundup presents highlights from June to September 2026. During this period, SANEM provided technical support to the Department of Environment and ILO in developing Bangladesh’s Just Transition Chapter for the NDC 3.0 Implementation Plan, with financial support from the Embassy of Sweden. Together with Invest Bangladesh and ADB, SANEM held a sensitisation meeting and seven regional workshops for the Survey of Industries in Bangladesh. Other engagements included participatory workshops with young workers alongside ActionAid Bangladesh, a policy dialogue on the leather sector with FLAXA supported by the Australian High Commission (DFAT), a report dissemination event on agricultural public spending with the World Bank, a public lecture by Professor Jean-Louis Arcand on AI and labour markets, and an international training on CGE modelling in Kathmandu, co-hosted with IFPRI and Tribhuvan University.

Call for Papers | 10th SANEM Annual Economists’ Conference (10SAEC) 2027

1st Home Event, All Events, News, Uncategorized, Upcoming Event

CALL FOR PAPERS 10th SANEM Annual Economists’ Conference (10SAEC) 2027 Driving the Next Decade: Innovation, Inclusion and Economic Transformation April 2-4, 2027 | Sheraton Dhaka, Bangladesh The South Asian Network on Economic Modeling (SANEM) is pleased to invite submissions for the 10th SANEM Annual Economists’ Conference (10SAEC) 2027, themed “Driving the Next Decade: Innovation, Inclusion…

Vol XIII, Issue 6: November 2026

Thinking Aloud

Thinking Aloud: Volume XIII, Issue 6: November 1, 2026 This November issue explores three challenges facing Bangladesh’s economy: weak private investment, the rising cost of ensuring energy security, and higher agricultural production costs. The articles examine how policy uncertainty, dependence on imported energy, and rising fuel prices are affecting businesses, industries, and farmers. Here’s what’s…

Feasibility Study on Social Protection Options for MSMEs and Their Workers in Bangladesh, including Existing Practices and Available Best Practices

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Previous Feasibility Study on Social Protection Options for MSMEs and Their Workers in Bangladesh, including Existing Practices and Available Best Practices Collaboration: International Labour Organization (ILO), Bangladesh Starting date:  September 15, 2026 Completion date: December 15, 2026 Project description: This project supports ILO’s Advancing Formalization in Bangladesh initiative by assessing which social protection options are…

Estimating the Impact of PKSF’s Interventions on Employment

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Previous Estimating the Impact of PKSF’s Interventions on Employment Collaboration: Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF) Starting date:  July 7, 2026 Completion date: July 07, 2027 Project description: This project estimates how much employment is generated by the loan programmes and enterprise development activities of PKSF, Bangladesh’s apex development organisation. Although PKSF has long aimed to reduce…

Support DataNext Fellowship Cohort II for BBS Officials

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Previous Support DataNext Fellowship Cohort II for BBS Officials Collaboration: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Bangladesh Starting date: October 12, 2026 Completion date: February 09, 2027 Project description: This project provides technical facilitation and quality assurance for the second cohort of the DataNext Fellowship, which strengthens the practical skills of Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics officials.…

Technical and Logistical Support for Assessment of Investment Needs for Universal Childcare and Long-term Care Services in Bangladesh

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Previous Technical and Logistical Support for Assessment of Investment Needs for Universal Childcare and Long-term Care Services in Bangladesh Collaboration: International Labour Organization (ILO) Bangladesh Starting date: October 09, 2026 Completion date: February 28, 2027 Project description: This project provides technical and logistical support to the Bangladesh in assessing the investment needed to move towards…

Comprehensive Ecosystem Development at and behind Trade Gateway for Enhancing EXIM Efficiency at Chattogram Port, Bangladesh

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Previous Comprehensive Ecosystem Development at and behind Trade Gateway for Enhancing EXIM Efficiency at Chattogram Port, Bangladesh Collaboration: Asian Development Bank (ADB) Starting date: September 15, 2026 Completion date: February 15, 2027 Project description: This project supports ADB, under the South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) Program, in assessing and strengthening the ecosystem at and…

Digital Public Infrastructure Inclusivity Measurement Programme

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Previous Digital Public Infrastructure Inclusivity Measurement Programme Collaboration: Global Development Network (GDN) Starting date: September 01, 2026 Completion date: April 30, 2027 Project description: This project examines who is being left out of Bangladesh’s digital public infrastructure, and why. While the country has made notable progress in digital identity, public service delivery, and digital payments,…