Al-Madina Tannery Visit

Our team embarked on a visit to a Savar tannery on December 20, 2023, aiming to build relationships and understand the existing scenario, particularly focusing on product processing. Information shared by by Nayeem Khan, the Human Resource Executive, we were warmly welcomed, and the tannery stood out for its care in both interior and exterior aesthetics, adorned with green plants.

During discussions, the tannery team shared insights into their productivity, product range, major buyers (China, Vietnam, South Africa, and India), and their aspirations for developing new environmentally friendly products. With a business type of 100% export, a workforce of 50, and a monthly production capacity of 5 lakhs sq. ft., they expressed satisfaction with their productivity. Our conversation delved into regulatory compliance, workforce roles, technology integration, and future trends. A tour of the well-organized production floor revealed a readiness to adopt new systems such as Lean and Occupational Health and Safety (OHS). The tannery is also pursuing the Leather Working Group (LWG) certification, demonstrating a commitment to environmental standards.

Key discussions highlighted areas for improvement, including the absence of a safety policy, the need for fire warning and evacuation systems, and concerns about the malfunctioning Common Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP), impacting European buyers’ interest. The tannery is actively addressing these issues and is optimistic about achieving the LWG certification to facilitate smooth trade market operations.