Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has urged Indian leather and footwear industry to diversify its export destinations and reduce dependence on a few major markets. Speaking at the Council for Leather Exports National Export Excellence Awards 2024-25 in New Delhi, he asked exporters to explore smaller developed countries and make better use of government export promotion initiatives.
The minister said 77% of India’s leather exports currently go to just 15 countries and stressed that the industry should now expand its presence across more global markets.
He said exporters should make full use of the new opportunities created through India’s Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) and the growing number of developed countries opening their markets to Indian products.
Goyal urged exporters not to focus only on large destinations such as the USA, the UK, Germany and Italy, while acknowledging the strong potential these markets continue to offer.
Instead, he encouraged companies to enter smaller developed countries where consumers regularly purchase and replace footwear and where designer brands have established demand.
He said Indian designer brands should also be introduced in these countries to strengthen their international presence.
Goyal said the Export Promotion Mission is ready to provide every possible assistance required by the industry.
He said the government is willing to support overseas business delegations, international exhibitions and other export promotion activities to help companies enter new markets.
Referring to the industry’s exhibition planned in India this September, the minister urged companies to organise one exhibition every month in a developed country to capture new business opportunities around the world.
He also encouraged exporters to use the Export Promotion Mission for warehousing support, more frequent overseas delegations and exhibitions in major markets.
Goyal assured the industry that proposals for such initiatives would receive government approval and added that micro and small enterprises would also be supported in participating.
The minister invited the industry to present new ideas on how the government and businesses can work together to expand the global presence of Indian leather products.
He said the world is increasingly looking towards Indian exporters as trusted partners for high-quality, sustainable and safely manufactured products produced at scale and offered at competitive and affordable prices.
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