The 38th India International Leather Fair (IILF) concluded on February 3, 2025, at the Chennai Trade Centre. This annual event, a cornerstone for India’s leather industry, showcased a wide array of products, including leather accessories, footwear components, synthetic materials, machinery, chemicals, and technology.

The fair’s opening coincided with the presentation of the Union Budget 2025-26 on February 1. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced significant policy measures aimed at boosting the leather and footwear sectors.

Notably, the removal of the 20% export duty on crust leather and the 10% import duty on wet blue leather is expected to strengthen the tanning industry and promote exports of value-added products and the introduction of the focus product scheme that will be generating nearly 2.2 million job opportunity.

Participants at the fair expressed optimism about the future. The alignment of the fair’s opening with the budget announcements created a vibrant atmosphere, with many attendees noting a renewed sense of confidence in the industry’s growth prospects.

As the sector moves forward, stakeholders are hopeful that these initiatives will lead to sustained growth and increased global competitiveness.