our STAFF REPORTER SIALKOT United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) will continue to provide technical assistance to counterparts in Sialkot-Pakistan and projects like provision of technology, preparation of technical documentation, industrial wastewater treatment, etc would continue to be implemented in coming days. Mr. Ivan Kral (UNIDOs International Industrial Development Officer from Vienna) stated this while addressing the Sialkot exporters held at Leather Products Development Institute (LPDI) Sialkot here. PGMEA Chairman Muhammad Younas, LPDI Incharge Muhammad Atif, Programme Development Expert-UNIDO Sardar Ahsan Younus and senior journalists were also present on this occasion. Mr. Ivan Kral discussed in details the ongoing and future industrial collaboration and advancement projects with the Leather Products Development Institute (LPDI), Pakistan Gloves Manufacturing and Exporters Association (PGMEA) and Sialkot Chambers of Commerce and Industry (SCCI). He said that UNIDO would always welcome the innovative ideas and requests for technical assistance by counterparts. He also visited the Innovative Leather Products Technology Unit established by UNIDO in 2010. They announced to improve the Technology Unit with more advanced technology and training sessions. United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) had recently transferred the prolonged promised and direly needed Innovative Leather Products Technology by establishing its unit at Leather Products Development Institute (LPDI) Sialkot with a sole aim of modernizing the leather industries of Sialkot, enabling them to meat the global trade challenges under this WTO regime. Terming it a successful event, UNIDO added it could be helpful in boosting and expanding the Sialkot leather industry globally, while Pakistan Gloves Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PGMEA) has also termed this technology transfer a major achievement of Sialkot business community. Mr. Ivan Kral expressed satisfaction over the successful transfer of technology and the helping hand offered by PGMEA during the course of implementation. He added that a number of interventions have been implemented including provision of latest technology from a number of countries for advanced industrial training to workers, training on management and marketing issues, technical expertise by an international expert, on the job training and advice in a number of leather industries, and study tour by turkey by key promoters of Leather Sector in Sialkot. The interventions formed a complete package for SialkotIs leather industries. He termed it a successful transfer of technology component for establishing an innovative technology unit at Leather Products Development Institute (LPDI) Sialkot. He revealed that Sialkot is a model for industrial activities in Pakistan and the success must be attributed to the industrialists in Sialkot who are courageous to establish industries and expand the industrial activities on one hand and also developing the city of Sialkot on the other hand considering it their responsibility towards the country. The leather sector is one of the main foreign exchange earnings and export- oriented business in Pakistan of which Sialkot has been recognized as a hub from leather products manufacturing. According to an estimate the total leather products export of Pakistan is around US$ 1 billion out of which Sialkot accounts for US$ 450 million, which is about 45 percent of the countrys overall exports. The scenario encourages the people of Sialkot. It is evident that this sector has huge potential for further development and only Sialkot could double its leather exports within a few years provided that basic requirements for development are available in Sialkot. He narrated that it was heartening to know that the industrialists of Sialkot are very supportive and encouraged towards their national responsibilities. Mr. Ivan Kral said that Sialkot had been the limelight of industrial activities in Pakistan. The tribute goes to the industrialists in Sialkot who were courageous to expand the industrial activities and also develop the Sialkot city considering it their responsibility towards the country. She said that the leather sector is one of the main foreign exchange earnings and export oriented business in Pakistan of which Sialkot had been recognized as a hub for leather products manufacturing. He added that it was evident that this sector has huge potential for further development and Sialkot could double its leather exports within few years provided that basic requirements for development were available in this industrial city. He said that willingness of industrialists to expand and develop their businesses, training facilities and trained manpower for latest technologies and market trends, effective marketing strategies and knowledge of industrial developments elsewhere in the world were the basic ingredients of industrial development, besides, the hardware and technologies of industry. UNIDO will keep on assisting the industries in Pakistan to achieve the milestone for sustainable industrial development in Pakistan, he announced. UNIDO had offered its technical assistance and expertise to strengthen the leather industry of export-oriented Sialkot for providing trained manpower capable of meeting the international market demands and quality certifications. The UNIDO had initiated a development project for this purpose having three components including provision of latest training machinery for garmenting technology to Leather Product Development Institute (LPDI) Sialkot, practical training on garmenting and study tour abroad for hands-on knowledge on this technical area. The managements of LPDI, PGMEA and SCCI thanked Mr. Ivan Kral for his visit and all the work done by UNIDO for the industrial activities in Sialkot.