Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal recently chaired a stakeholder consultation with leaders from the footwear and leather industry. The meeting focused on improving quality standards and boosting India’s standing in the global market.
“Special emphasis was laid on upgrading testing infrastructure, promoting innovation and aligning with international benchmarks to make India a quality-conscious and globally trusted manufacturing hub.”
Piyush Goyal, Union Commerce and Industry Minister
India’s leather and footwear exports have increased by nearly 25% in the 2024-25 financial year, reaching $5.7 billion. The Council for Leather Exports (CLE) believes this momentum will continue, with the industry likely crossing the $6.5 billion mark in the current financial year.
Strong demand from both developed and developing countries is pushing this impressive growth. The sector employs around 42 lakh people and has an overall turnover of $19 billion, with $5 billion in exports.
The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) recently issued a notification lifting key restrictions on leather product exports. Exporters can now ship Finished Leather, Wet Blue Leather, and EI Tanned Leather from any port or Inland Container Depot (ICD).
Earlier, these products could only be exported from designated ports. The DGFT has also removed the mandatory requirement for testing and certification by the Central Leather Research Institute (CLRI) for these exports.
