There is enormous potential for future growth (domestic as well as export) and target is to reach USD 5 billion annual export by next few years. It is the 2nd highest contributor to national exports after apparel. In fiscal 2017-18, according to data from the EPB, export of leather, leather goods, and footwear were USD 1.08 billion. According to LFMEAB, the domestic demand of leather footwear and goods was worth about Tk 16,000 crore but 40 percent of the demands are met by importing goods from abroad.

At present, Bangladesh has 165 footwear and leather factories, in addition, the country has 161 tanneries that process raw hides into finished leather. Investment in leather goods and footwear has been rising significantly. Bangladeshi entrepreneurs are investing in compliant factories to produce high-quality footwear that will eventually reduce the dependence on the import of leather goods.