India’s LIDCAP sees new way forward in ‘Leather Parks’
Following its ill-fated leather goods venture (See leatherbiz.com story LIDCAP to pull out of leather production - 7.12.01) the Leather Industries Development Corporation of Indian state of Andhra Pradesh (LIDCAP) has proposed the creation of up of 94 leather parks in the state.
According to LIDCAP Managing Director Tenneti Krishna Prasad, the plan makes provision for 72 small parks of 25 acres each, 16 medium-sized units of 100 acres and six ‘Mega Sites’ of 300 acres. Leather technology courses will be offered at all the sites at diploma, degree and post-graduate level.
The corporation will seek the assistance of international organisations in developing the content of the courses, Krishna Prasad said, with income being generated through the licensing of the LIDCAP brand to leather producers and the leasing out of the company’s six manufacturing units. The corporation also intends to lease out a 40 acre area of land at Gachibowli, four acres at Vijayawada, five acres at Tirupati and four acres at Guntakal. To complement the courses provided at the parks, the company had also persuaded the state government to introduce a new course in leather technology in polytechnics and Industrial Training Institutes across the state, Krishna Prasad said.
Established nearly three decades ago with the objective of promoting the Andhra Pradesh leather industry, LIDCAP has fallen on difficult times in recent years, having tried and failed to compete on equal terms with privately-owned leather goods manufacturers. According to Krishna Prasad, the company now sees its role as being a government implementor and helping the state's leather trade develop through teaching and other initiatives.
