Uttar Pradesh is making a big move to strengthen its leather and footwear industry. The state is planning to invest ₹8,000 crore (~US$1 Billion) to build two large parks in Agra and Kanpur. These parks will not only help create thousands of jobs but will also boost exports of leather products.
The two parks will cover a total area of 300 acres, and work has already begun. The locations have been chosen and acquired.
The state government is focusing on creating strong infrastructure and providing the right tools for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) involved in leather production. This includes companies that make footwear, saddlery, and leather goods.
These parks will also help companies meet global standards, including environmental requirements. This means the parks will not only produce more leather goods but will also make them in a cleaner, more sustainable way.
The product range from these parks will go beyond just footwear. Expect to see a wide variety of leather goods such as bags, belts, and accessories coming from Uttar Pradesh. This will help the state move up the leather value chain and become more competitive globally.
The state government, under Yogi Adityanath, is working on a new leather and footwear policy to align with the upcoming Union Budget for FY25–26.
Source – Business Standard