Bangladesh has been involved in this industry since the colonial era, although noticeable modernisation took place during the late 1980s with traditional cottage type footwear units set to produce in limited production. First large scale manufacturing plant was established by Bata Shoe Company in 1967 which also possessed export potentials to the erstwhile USSR and England.

Since this founding, Bata emerged ahead, innovating not only in its design and production, but also in creating business models. In this light Mr. Sin Kee Lee, retail manager of Bata Shoe Company (Bangladesh) ltd shared with Dhaka Courier that ‘since our founding, Bata has been at the forefront of innovation; not only in the production and design of new styles, but in the creation of business models that permit a quick response to the ever-changing wants and needs of our customers. As a result, Bata enjoys a long history as a leading manufacturer and retailer of quality footwear, and proudly serves some one million customers each day’.

Sin Kee Lee notes that before Bata set foot on Bangladesh, the factory had its shoe production going on in the Western province of the undivided Bengal. But understanding the need of presence here in Bangladesh, Bata decided to setup a factory at Tongi, and gradually prospered in to tannery and a leather production factory at Dhamrai in 1987. ‘With more than 30,000 employees, 5,000 international retail stores, and a presence in over 70 countries, Bata is positioned to deliver an unparalleled combination of selection, quality, and service to customers around the globe’, Sin Kee Lee says in support of their entrepreneurial strength.