Jaitley opens 2nd IIFF - a B2B event on footwear industry

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SME Times News Bureau | 06 Aug, 2016
The Finance Minister, Arun Jaitley inaugurates the 2nd edition of India International Footwear Fair (IIFF) - the premier specialised B2B event of the India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) and Confederation of Indian Footwear Industries (CIFI) on August 5 at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.

In his address Jaitley said, "We are passing through transformational times and in these transformational times, those who have taken over the challenge, I think must seize this as a global opportunity."

The world is not doing well today at all, it is in a slowdown mode now, he said.

"Therefore with the globe not doing so well, global markets shrinking, some of the more advanced units, particularly in leather are facing challenge because of shrinkage of global markets, but that's not an everlasting phenomenon. That could be a transient phenomenon, and even in that we have to seize the opportunity for ourselves," he said.

Emphasising that India has potential particularly in non-leather footwear to become a world beater, he said, this is one industry that India is capable of finding core competence, reports a leading news agency.

Over the last few years India has shown potential as far as services are concerned but for some reason the country missed out in manufacturing, he added.

The two big employment generator in the manufacturing sector are textile and apparel, and leather.

Highlighting various steps taken by the government, the Finance Minister said last four months have seen three very significant steps--Aadhaar, Bankruptcy Code and the GST law.

"These spate of changes are taking place, when the world is otherwise in a slowdown phase," he said.

IIFF (August 5-7, 2016) is being organised with support of apex bodies including the Council for Leather Exports (CLE), Central Leather Research Institute(CLRI), Indian Shoe Federation (ISF), Footwear Design and Development Institute (FDDI) and Indian Footwear Components Manufacturers Association (IFCOMA) and Indian Finished Leather manufacturers’ Association (IFLMEA).

This year, as many as 263 leading companies from India and abroad are participating in the fair. These include over 160 Indian companies and 103 overseas from Brazil, China, Iran and Taiwan. China’s group participation is represented by Wenzhou Donnor Exhibition Group, G&F Co. and Splendour Exhibition Group.

IIFF features a wide range of products in Hall 14 & 18 at Pragati Maidan. These includes: footwear, raw material, finished leather- shoe components, uppers, soles, heels, counters, lasts, synthetic material, footwear machinery and equipment, process technology, software, chemicals and publications.

Visitor profile includes overseas business delegations, manufacturers & importers, buying houses, suppliers, consultants, retailers, equipment, chemical & machinery suppliers, representatives from marketing & direct selling companies and institutions.

The present demand in India is 2.3 billion pairs a year and it is estimated India will need 5 billion pairs of shoes in 2020. Apart from unveiling the export potential of India in footwear and leather industry, the event aims to project India as an ideal investment destination.

The fair reflects advances in technology, design and information sciences which enable modernisation of manufacturing units, eco- friendly and optimum use of resources.