Leather Co-Operatives Needed For Export Growth, Says Expert

Experts have stressed the need for co-operative model for relocating tanneries to help them survive in the global market. The co-operative model ensure that number of small units come together and concentrate on different phases of the tanning process from soaking to dyeing to finishing. It would also help them make bigger investment in upgrading technology and reducing dependence on manual labour.

For example, most of the 600 tanneries in Kolkata used outdated technology with little automation. As a result, product quality varied widely. Lack of consistency had severely impaired their ability to export.