Chennai, 31st january 2024: “The 37th edition of India International Leather Fair (IILF) will catalyze the growth of leather & footwear sector “said Shri Rajendra Kumar Jalan, Chairman, Council for Leather Exports.
Shri Rajendra Kumar Jalan added “IILF occupies a very prominent place in the global calendar of leather fairs. Since its inception, IILF has witnessed significant growth, both in terms of number of exhibitors and in terms of range of products displayed. This fair plays a vital role in the growth of Indian Leather and Footwear Industry. IILF 2023 was held in a net area of 10,000 sq.mtr with 460 Exhibitors including 126 overseas Exhibitors from 23 countries. 13,000 business visitors from 48 countries visited the fair. The 37th Edition of the fair (IILF 2024) will be held in Chennai Trade Centre, Chennai from 1st to 3rd February 2024. Ribbon Cutting ceremony of the fair is scheduled at 10 am on February 1, 2024 at Convention Centre, Chennai Trade Centre. The fair will display the entire range of products relating to leather and footwear industry from raw materials to finished products IILF 2024 has attracted more than 450 exhibitors, covering an area of over 10,500 sq.mtrs. CLE is also organising the concurrent event “Designer Fair” wherein about 38 overseas and Indian designers will be displaying their design prototypes and innovations”.
Coinciding with IILF, the Council for Leather Exports (CLE) will be organizing the 7th edition of Designers Fair (1st to 3rd February 2024) at Hall 1 D in Chennai Trade Centre. 38 design companies and institutions from 12 countries namely India , Russia , USA , Portugal , Italy, Brazil , Turkey , Greece , Australia , UK , Philippines and Mexico will be displaying their design prototypes and innovations in this fair.
Shri R. Selvam, Executive Director, CLE said “As part of export promotion efforts, CLE is continuing its aggressive market promotion campaign to tap both traditional and potential markets and accordingly CLE has organized ‘Group Participation’ of exporters in 16 international fairs and exhibitions and visit of delegations to overseas countries under the Market Access Initiative Scheme (MAIS) of Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India during the period April-December 2023. CLE will be participating/organising 9 more international events during January – March 2024 with MAIS support, which include Delhi International Leather Expo (DILEX) to be held in Delhi during 4th and 5th March 2024 and Designers Fairs, Chennai during 1st to 3rd February 2024.
The Department for Promotion of Industry & Internal Trade (DPIIT), Government of India is implementing the Central Sector Scheme Indian Footwear & Leather Development Programme (IFLDP) for 5-years period FY 2021-2026 with an outlay of Rs.1700 Crore. The core objective of the IFLDP is to enable creation of world class infrastructure for the leather and footwear industry to cater to the domestic market and exports and to enable modernization, technology upgradation, capacity expansion in the existing manufacturing units besides encouraging setting up of new units in the sector. The IFLDP will also address environmental management specific to the leather tanning industry, establishment of greenfield and brownfield Mega Leather, Footwear & Accessories clusters in the country, promotion of Indian Brands in the overseas countries, and setting up of new Design Studios etc. We are glad to inform that total investments to the tune of Rs. 1176.31 Crore has already been committed as of now under this scheme.
The Council for Leather Exports (CLE) being the industry body is coordinating with the Leather & Footwear industry stakeholders in the country and with DPIIT, Govt of India and implementation agencies FDDI, CLRI, NID, IIFT, NPC, State Government Departments for smooth implementation of the sub-schemes of IFLDP.
Shri Rajendra Kumar Jalan, Chairman, CLE added “We thank the Government of India for the wonderful support provided to the leather & footwear industry. We expect additional support measures for the sector in the upcoming Union Budget 2024-25 so as to further catalyze our growth. As far as Union Budget is concerned, we have requested for re-instatement of import duty exemption on wet blue, crust and finished leathers, addition of new inputs under Import of Goods under Concessional Rates of Duty (IGCR) Scheme and also for allowing export of all value added leathers including crust leathers, without any export duty, inspection, certification or testing. Consideration of these requests in the budget will help in increasing the export of value-added products from the country. Besides, we also have been requesting Production Linked Incentive Scheme (PLI) for the leather and footwear industry, so as to not only enhance the production and exports, but to strengthen the supply chain in the country”.
On the whole, the India International Leather Fair 2024 and concurrent events will witness series of events which will open-up new window of opportunities for the overall growth and development of Indian leather and footwear sector.