Bangladeshi government & business delegation at PFI and ISC to discuss establishment of successful leather industry technology and training centre in Bangladesh. A World Bank-led twelve-person delegation from Bangladesh, Washington D.C., and India visited the International Shoe Competence Center (ISC) and the Test and Research Institute (PFI) at Pirmasens. The objective of the visit by representatives of government, local leatherworking associations, and industry was to generate and gather ideas for setting up a modern leather industry technology and training centre in Bangladesh. At present, no successful technology and training centre such as that which has long been operating in Pirmasens is to be found anywhere in Bangladesh. The principal focus of the visit to ISC and PFI was therefore on training and on the demands nowadays placed on a competitive leather industry. A tour of the state-of-the-art PFI laboratories offering an enormous range of physical and chemical quality testing procedures for all kinds of leather articles met with great interest on the part of the participants. Two recognised experts, Dr. Ines Anderie and Dipl. Ing. Kai Tinschert, were on hand to answers questions and provide explanations. Dr. Joseph Strasser (Consulting Service International Ltd.) then gave a brief overview of the CADS Initiative and of the Quality Association for Sustainability of Footwear and Leather Goods, set up by the German Federal Association of the Footwear and Leather Goods Industry (HDS/L), which both aim to promote greater sustainability along the leather value chain. In conclusion, textile engineer Jutta Knels, PFI, presented an introduction to the new Leather Standard by OEKO-TEX® which considers not only aspects such as protection of consumers from harmful substances possibly present in leather but also future prospects and the measures necessary for sustainable production: Who is prepared to pay for quality, environmental protection, or social fairness? How can SMEs demonstrate their proactive conduct favouring greater sustainability on a global scale? How can it be explained to consumers that articles of lasting value, i.e. of high quality, come at a price that includes, the costs of environmental protection, industrial safety, training, and many more factors besides? How can reliability and partnership in the supply chain be rewarded and transparency between companies and consumers enhanced? The visitors will be able to take numerous ideas and valuable arguments for a training and technology centre from Pirmasens back to Bangladesh. Quelle: PFI Germany