Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal highlighted India’s footwear and leather industry as a big foreign exchange generator. He stressed the industry’s labor-intensive aspect 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% per cent of whom are women.
Goyal expressed unwavering faith in India’s ability to become the world’s top producer of premium footwear. He emphasised India’s excellent ranks as the second-largest exporter of leather apparel, the third-largest exporter of saddlery and harnesses, and the fourth-largest exporter of leather items in the world.
The Minister also emphasised the significant fact that the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) oversees over 95 per cent of the production facilities in this sector.
In order to distinguish Indian footwear internationally and lessen reliance on foreign sizing patterns, Goyal stated that Indian sizes of footwear will soon be introduced. According to the Minister, Government testing facilities would be set up as part of India’s development agenda for leather and footwear.
Goyal urged the stakeholders to grow the company while maintaining the emphasis on quality and sustainability, environmentally friendly practices, waste management, and investigating renewable electricity sources.
The industry would work with organisations like CLRI, FDDI, and NIFT to develop new goods and technologies in line with the shifting trends and demands of the market, he said.