December 27, 2002	Friday	Shawwal 22, 1423

KARACHI, Dec 26: Pakistan Leather Garments Manufacturers & Exporters Association (PLGMEA) has urged Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) to hire the services of Korean technicians to improve the quality of leather garments.

In a communications with the chairman and vice chairman of EPB, PLGMEA chief Fawad Ijaz Khan has pointed out presently most of “our leather products are positioned in the low to medium quality segment.”

He said Korean technicians had helped Chinese and Turkish manufacturers improve their end product by proving themselves to be better craftsmen as compared to Pakistanis.

Mr Fawad is of an opinion that Korean technicians will help enhance the quality and provide much needed competitive advantage in present dismal position of leather garment exports. He further said there was urgent need of product upgradation and quality improvement to sustain and increase export share in global market for leather garments.

He said 10 Korean technicians will be sufficient to train labour force of leather garment manufacturing factories situated in Karachi, Lahore and Sialkot in skills like pattern making, garment cutting and stitching for three months.

The PLGMEA chairman said these technicians will not only be instrumental in improving the quality of “our leather garments but will also be helpful in projecting a positive image of the superior quality of our products to international buyers.”

The estimated cost of providing the training through Korean technicians will be around $150,000, he added.