Commerce Minister Altaf Hossain Choudhury formally inaugurated the centre. Speaking at the opening function, the minister urged leather and leather goods entrepreneurs to diversify their products.

Chaired by Export Promotion Bureau Vice-chairman Mir Shahabuddin Mohammad, the function was also attended by Commerce Ministry Adviser Barkatullah Bulu, Naser Rahman MP, and Md Nasir Uddin Ahmed Pintu MP.

Italian Ambassador to Bangladesh Pietro Ballero, Bangladesh Finished Leather, Leathergoods and Footwear Exporters Association President Tipu Sultan, Bangladesh Tanners Association President Harun Chowdhury and International Trade Centre UNCTAD/WTO representative Giovanni Padaglio were also present.

Students of leather technology and leather entrepreneurs will get testing facility, certification and technical facilities from the centre. The government of Italy funded $1.8 million to set up the centre.