Chief Executive Officer, Technology Upgradation and Skill Development Company (TUSDEC) Muhammad Alamgir Choudhry has said that they are making adequate efforts for tracking industrial sector on modern production lines. Talking to Business Recorder here last night he revealed that TUSDEC has initiated a need assessment survey for setting up "Footwear Product Development Centre."

The objective of the survey was to ascertain the feasibility of the proposed centre and to verify the elements (production services and human resource development) that are to be incorporated into it he said. Alamgir said that majority of the sector stakeholders agreed that a product development centre for footwear sector is much needed to enhance the performance of the industry.

The proposed product development centre introducing new technology, production of better quality goods and higher productivity levels could enable footwear sector of Pakistan to compete in terms of price and quality both in the local and international markets he added. Alamgir said that centre would be able to extend advisory services for higher productivity with standardization to the sub-contractor adding that support centre will help in gaining greater competitive strength and develop collective efficiency, providing common services to improve footwear and backward linkages with markets and with suppliers of input.

CEO TUSDEC was of the opinion that proposed development centre will be designed to cater needs of footwear industry in human resource, product development, design and will be landmark in the development of footwear sector of Pakistan. The specific objectives are to create skilled human resource within the country by imparting appropriate knowledge and skills to promote growth of footwear industry in the country by incorporating different levels of training he disclosed.

He further told that the centre will facilitate the footwear manufacturers with the state of art services for prototype designing and mold making adding that the proposed centre will be designed to cater mold making and designing needs of the footwear industry along with training services using CAD/CAM.

As many as 1600 trainees will be trained in different courses in three years of operation, 900 product development jobs will be performed, to help enhance productivity and competitiveness in local and international markets and add innovation into a product he added.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2017