With the aim of improving ties with the UK, representatives from the Indian Council for Leather Exports (CLE), including its chairman Mukataparul Amin, gave presentations on the Indian leather industry in Northampton this week, providing an overview and statistics relating to the industry in India.
Economic Minister from the High Commission of India, S Jagadeesan spoke about economic activity and its ongoing rapid pace of growth in the country, suggesting that in some ways the country is outpacing China, and highlighting the benefits of India’s demographic profile with a large proportion of young people. He added that while China leads the way in terms of low cost, India leads in quality. He also acknowledged that training for many more technical and managerial staff must be provided if the sector’s ambitious targets are to be achieved.
The council is seeking collaboration with members of the UK leather industry, which has a large pool of skilled and technical workers, in the hope of establishing a joint venture.
15 Indian companies, mainly shoe producers, presented samples of their goods at the meeting, which was attended by a number of UK companies and leather industry bodies.
India is responsible for 10% of global leather production and 15% of global footwear production. The leather industry accounts for 23% of India’s exports.
