Our Staff reporter SIALKOT - United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) has 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 modernising the leather industries of Sialkot, enabling them to meet the global trade challenges under this WTO regime. UNIDO has termed this technology transfer as a successful event, which 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 a major achievement of Sialkot business community. An inauguration ceremony held at Leather Products Development Institute (LPDI) Sialkot here on Saturday for unveiling the innovative leather products technology unit established by UNIDO. Ms. Shadia Yousif, (UNIDO Representative in Pakistan), Sheikh Muhammad Younas (PGMEA) jointly inaugurated this unit. While In charge LPDI Sialkot Muhammad Asif and senior journalists were also present on this event. Addressing the participants, Ms. Shadia Yousif expressed satisfaction over the successful transfer of technology and the helping hand offered by PGMEA during the course of implementation. She 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 Sialkots leather industries. The leather sector is one of the main foreign exchange earnings and export-oriented business in Pakistan of which Sialkot has been recognises as a hub for 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. Ms. Shadia Yousif has said that Sialkot had been the limelight of industrial activities in Pakistan. They 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 recognised as a hub for leather products manufacturing.