Indian Footwear & Leather Industry Employs 4.5 Million People: Piyush Goyal

The Indian footwear and leather industry provides employment to around 4.5 million people of which 40 per cent are women, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution and Textiles, Piyush Goyal said in New Delhi on Monday.

Addressing as a Chief Guest at India International Footwear Fair 2023 (IIFF), the minister said, “The Indian Footwear and Leather industry is not only a major foreign exchange earner but being a labour intensive sector; it also provides employment to approximately 4.5 million people, 40 per cent of whom are women.”

He also said that India has the capacity to become world’s largest and best quality footwear manufacturer. He said that India is the second largest exporter of leather garments, third largest exporter of Saddlery and Harness and fourth largest exporter of Leather Goods in the world. Goyal highlighted that more than 95 per cent of the production units in this sector are MSME units.

Goyal said that Indian size of footwear will be launched soon to help distinguish Indian footwear around the globe and reduce dependence on foreign sizing trends. He suggested the industrialists explore Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) for technological collaborations, joint ventures of non-leather footwear, thus increasing the export of the country and enhancing the domestic market with Indian products.

He highlighted the visionary leadership of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi leading in initiatives like undertaking grand infrastructure like 'Bharat Mandapam' - International Exhibition-cum-Convention Centre complex, which will host the G20 summit in September 2023.

The Minister said that testing facilities will be established by the Government as part of India’s footwear and leather development programme. He also highlighted the steps undertaken by the government for ease of doing business like decriminalisation of corporate offenses, reducing compliance burdens, creating a national single window for all approvals, World Class Infrastructure, etc.

Goyal also urged the stakeholders to expand the business while keeping the focus on quality and sustainability, eco-friendly process, waste management, and exploring renewable sources for electricity.