
The Indian footwear and leather industry was given a lot of attention by Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, who emphasized its importance as a substantial source of foreign exchange. He emphasized the industry’s labor-intensive nature during the India International Footwear Fair 2023 (IIFF), which was hosted in New Delhi, pointing out that it creates employment prospects for almost 4.5 million people, 40% of whom are women. Goyal expressed the utmost faith in India’s ability to become the world leader in the production of premium footwear. India is the second-largest exporter of leather clothing, third-largest exporter of saddlery & harnesses, and fourth-largest exporter of leather items in the world, he noted, drawing attention to India’s remarkable rankings.
The minister also emphasized the significant fact that the Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME) is in charge of overseeing over 95% of the production facilities in this sector.
According to Goyal, Indian shoe sizes will soon be introduced in order to distinguish Indian footwear internationally and lessen reliance on foreign sizing trends. As part of India’s growth plans for leather and footwear, the minister said that testing facilities will be developed by the government. Goyal urged the parties involved to grow the company while maintaining a commitment to environmental responsibility, eco-friendly operations, waste management, and the investigation of renewable energy sources.
According to him, organizations like CLRI, FDDI, and NIFT will work with the market to produce new goods and technologies that are in line with the shifting trends and demands of the market.