India International Leather Fair to go ahead
The Indian Council for Leather Exports (CLE) sponsored by the Indian Ministry of Commerce & Industry has announced that despite the devastation caused by the tsunami, the 20th India International Leather Fair (IILF-2005) organised by the India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) with co-sponsorship of CLE, will go ahead in Chennai from January 31 to February 3, 2005. The CLE said that despite the widespread carnage caused by the disaster, it has not affected the leather industry in the region.
In a separate statement, the CLE said that country's leather exports registered an increase of 15% from April-August 2004, achieving an export value of $926 million compared to $807.09 million in the corresponding period last year.
During the first five months of the financial year, leather footwear exports rose by 15.80% to $224.46 million from $193.84 million in April-August 2003 followed by leather garments showing an increase of 1.55% to reach $225.46 million from $222.01 million, leather goods exports grew by 21.65% to $217.99 million from $179.20 million, non-leather footwear by 206.61% to $44.42 million from $14.49, saddlery and harnesses by 21.06% to $23.14 million from $19.11 million and leather garments by 22.56% to $ 132.21 million from $107.87 million in the same period last year. However, footwear component exports fell by 17.76% to $58.05 million from $70.58 million.
