Chennai, 2025: “ The 38th edition of India International Leather Fair (IILF) scheduled to be held at Chennai Trade Centre during February 1-3, 2025 will be the largest fair in terms of exhibition area and will be a focal point for display of technologies and innovations for the leather & footwear sector “ said Shri Rajendra Kumar Jalan, Chairman, Council for Leather Exports (CLE).
Inauguration of the IILF 2025 is scheduled at 10.30 am on February 1, 2025 at the foyer area of new halls 2 & 3 in Chennai Trade Centre. The fair will display the entire range of products relating to leather and footwear industry from raw materials to finished products. Brazil, France, Germany and Italy will be having their country pavilions. IILF 2025 will have exhibition stands in the newly built halls also.
Shri Rajendra Kumar Jalan added “At a time when India is looked upon as a major production and sourcing hub, IILF will provide a major platform for display of modern technologies and for entering into short term and long term business tie-ups. I am happy to note that more than 450 exhibitors from all over India and overseas countries will be displaying their products and technologies in about 12,000 sq.mtr area”
During IILF, CLE is also organising the concurrent event “Designer Fair” at the Convention Centre in Chennai Trade Centre. The Designers Fair will witness the participation of 36 Design Companies & Institutions from 9 countries namely Australia, Brazil, Italy, India, Philippines, Turkey, Portugal, Mexico, and USA.
Shri R. Selvam, Executive Director, CLE said “Indian Leather & Footwear industry has huge growth and employment potential. The industry is aiming to reach a turnover of USD 47.1 billion by 2029-30 (which includes domestic industry turnover of USD 33.4 billion and export turnover of USD 13.7 billion), from the turnover of USD 23.69 billion during 2023-24 (which includes domestic industry turnover of USD 19 billion and export turnover of USD 4.69 billion). the industry will be able to generate additional 2.5 million jobs in the next 5 years, in addition to the 4.42 million people already working in the industry”.
Shri M. Abdul Wahab, Regional Chairman (South), CLE said “After experiencing decline in exports in the first five months of this year, exports from Indian leather and footwear sector is back on growth track, with exports registering about 2.6% growth during April – December 2024. Exports are projected to reach USD 5 billion during 2024-25, as against USD 4.69 billion in 2023-24. We have witnessed huge export growth levels to major markets like USA, UK, Netherlands, Vietnam etc., this year. Considering the huge potential for significant growth in exports in the next 4-5 years, I am sure that we will be able to reach our envisaged export target of USD 13.70 billion by 2029- 30, from the export value of USD 4.69 billion in 2023-24”.
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 18 international fairs and exhibitions and visit of delegations to overseas countries both under the Market Access Initiative Scheme (MAIS) of Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India and also on self financing basis, during the period April-December 2024.
CLE will be participating/organising 6 more international events during January – March 2025, which include Delhi International Leather Expo (DILEX) to be held in Delhi during 20th and 21st February 2025 wherein more than 200 exhibitors and 225 overseas buyers will be participating.
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 is also addressing environmental management projects 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.2695.85 Crore has already been committed as of now under the IFLDP sub-schemes. Approvals have been accorded so far by the Competent Authority to the extent of 67% of the total outlay of Rs.1700.00 crores. These include creation of 4 green-field Mega Leather, Footwear & Accessories Clusters in Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh & Maharashtra and all these new green-field clusters are being set up by the State Government agencies and these currently in various stages of implementation. Under the Sustainable Technology and Environmental Promotion (STEP) sub-scheme of IFLDP, 5 CETPs in Tamil Nadu and are being upgraded and proposals for upgradation of 2 more CETPs (1 in Rajasthan and 1 in Punjab) are in pipeline.
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 successful implementation of the sub-schemes of IFLDP.
Shri Rajendra Kumar Jalan, Chairman, CLE said “The huge growth potential of the industry offers significant opportunities for investments. In order to attract overseas investments in products sector and also to promote joint ventures in the components sector, CLE organized the visits of leather and footwear industry delegations to China, Taiwan, Vietnam and Russia. One such delegation will be visiting USA as well. The increasing interest shown by foreign companies to establish their production units in India is a very good sign as this will not only enhance our exports, but will also strengthen our supply chain”
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 2025-26 so as to further catalyze our growth. In the upcoming budget, we have requested for re-instatement of import duty exemption on wet blue, crust and finished leathers, and also removal of 20% export duty on wet blue and crust leathers.
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 a new production based support scheme 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 2025 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.
