Commerce and Industry Minister Mr. Piyush Goyal has urged the leather and footwear industry to aim for US$ 50 billion in exports by 2030. He highlighted the sector's potential to increase employment from 4 million to 10 million jobs at the India International Footwear Fair. Mr. Goyal emphasized the importance of leveraging India's free trade agreements and building a strong Indian brand for leather and footwear products. Currently, India’s leather and related products generate around US$ 5 billion in exports, positioning the country as the ninth-largest global exporter in this sector. He expressed a desire for India to become the largest leather goods manufacturer, moving beyond its status as the second largest. He encouraged the industry to focus on exceptional design and quality to enhance competitiveness in global markets.

To support this growth, the commerce ministry has proposed a Rs 2,600 crore (US$ 312.42 million) production-linked incentive scheme for the leather and footwear sectors. He also addressed the need for industry cooperation regarding quality control orders (QCO), noting that these orders do not apply to exports. He reassured industry leaders that additional time has been provided for compliance, particularly for fashion footwear manufacturers dealing with legacy stock.

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