AFLEX SOUTH AFRICA 2025’s Post

🌍 India’s Leather and Footwear Industry Set to Shine on the Global Stage! 👞🇮🇳 The Council for Leather Exports (CLE) Chairman, Mr. Rajendra Kumar Jalan, has shared some exciting updates on India's leather and footwear sector: 📈 Export Growth: The sector's exports are expected to grow by 12%+ this financial year, reaching a remarkable $5.3 billion (up from $4.69 billion in 2023-24). This is fueled by strong demand in key global markets. 🤝 Global Interest: Several global giants, including from the US, are showing interest in establishing manufacturing bases in India. 🌏 🌍 Exploring Africa: Indian exporters are actively exploring business opportunities in Africa, signaling the sector’s global ambitions. 👷 Employment Powerhouse: The leather and footwear industry is labour-intensive, employing about 42 lakh people. With a total turnover of $19 billion, this sector is pivotal to India’s economic growth. 🚀 Vision 2030: The CLE envisions a $47 billion turnover by 2030, comprising $25 billion in domestic production and $22 billion in exports. 🛠️ PLI Scheme Request: The CLE has urged the government to extend the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme to the leather and footwear sector. This move could: ✔️ Help achieve the ambitious $47 billion target. ✔️ Create an additional 7-8 lakh jobs. 📜 Budget Expectations: The CLE has requested the removal of the 20% export duty on wet blue and crust leather, a step that could make Indian exports even more competitive globally. India's leather and footwear sector stands at a transformational crossroads, combining heritage craftsmanship with modern global demand. Let’s support and celebrate this journey to new heights! 🚀✨ #MadeInIndia #LeatherIndustry #FootwearExports #GlobalTrade #ExportGrowth #EconomicDevelopment #JobCreation #PLI #India2030 #SustainabilityInFashion

Quick facts about Indian Footwear Industry #Day6/90 on covering Footwear sector **India being the second largest producer and consumer of footwear along with fourth largest exporter of leather goods mainly because of access to 21% of world's cattle and buffalo, providing a steady supply of raw materials. **India's leather and footwear exports totalled USD 4.68bn, with footwear contributing approx. 47% share. Major export markets include USA, Germany and UAE, reflecting India's increasing footprint globally. **India's footwear industry is dominated by MSME's, with key production hubs in Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and West Bengal ensuring a steady supply to meet the footwear demand within and outside India. **One of the challenges hindering the growth potential of the footwear industry are the government policies prioritizing the MSME's due to heavy tax burden on organized industry suppressing overall industry growth. This is causing a major threat as India's current production capacity is incapable to meet future demand. **Even if India's per capita demand for footwear equals the current average of developed markets by 2030, domestic production at present levels would only be able to meet 25 per cent of the demand, possibly causing forex losses due to heavy imports. **One major trend in recent times is shift towards athletic and casual footwear options, driven by consumers prioritizing health, comfort and style. Another trend is the rising importance of eco-friendly and properly produced footwear options, as consumers progressively adopting environmental practices, and accelerating producer's transparency in supply chains. **Additionally, rising e-commerce is transforming the way consumers shop for footwear, indicating strong digital presence. Thereby, brands that effectively leverage these trends by emphasizing sustainability, innovation and digital presence will thrive in this increasing footwear industry. That's it for today! Till then Stay Curious! #corporatefinance #businesstalks #footwearindustry

This is an exciting time for India's leather and footwear industry! The potential for growth and global expansion is immense. One aspect worth highlighting is the importance of sustainable practices in production. As global consumers become more conscious of environmental impacts, integrating eco-friendly processes could significantly enhance India's competitive edge. Additionally, leveraging digital transformation and innovation in design and manufacturing can open new avenues for efficiency and creativity. Kudos to the CLE for their visionary goals – here's to a future where Indian craftsmanship leads the global market! 🌟👞🌍 #InnovationInFashion #SustainableGrowth #DigitalTransformation

Taiwanese footwear giants considering Tamil Nadu as global manufacturing hub #Day11/90 on covering Footwear sector "The Make in India dream is happening; it’s not us, it’s the world that will go crazy over Made in India." **What major forces driving Tamil Nadu as global manufacturing hub by global giants? a) Tamil Nadu Footwear & Leather Products Policy 2022, which offers subsidies & foreign investment support has drawn top Taiwanese non-leather contract manufacturers by signing project MOU's of over Rs.2,250 crores. **Following this MOU's; on 28th November,2023 JR One Footwear (joint venture between Taiwan's Shoetown & India's Phoneix-Kothari group) in Perambalur, Tamil Nadu inaugurated its Crocs manufacturing unit. b) Then the government implemented quality control rooms for the footwear industry in 2023 for boosting the quality of footwear and become more competitive in global markets; right on time for Tamil Nadu. c) Also, the State Government plans to set up 20 non-leather footwear factories by 2025. d) Holds 48% share in leather & non-leather footwear exports & also contributes 32% of India's footwear production. e) Leather from the state is being already used by global luxury brands like Gucci, Prada, and Louis Vuitton. f) Talking about investment; so far, around 250 Taiwanese firms have invested $4 billion in India and they see India as the next big destination.   **Recent successes like Foxconn’s IPhone 15 assembly in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu, Feng tay early investment in 2006 & more such collaborations in recent years reinforced the confidence of Taiwanese manufacturers for strategic tie-ups and put India firmly on the manufacturing map. For more such updates, Stay Tuned & Keep Exploring! #corporatefinance #footwearindustry #businesstalks

Footwear Expo Delhi 2024 🥾⛸️ 👞 👡🥿 🩴👠 👟 Smile again ☺️ 🥾Yesterday I visited Footwear India Expo 24 at Pragat Maidan, supported by MSME,. ⛸️First of all I congratulate founder Suresh Khandwekar of the Footwear Expo 🥾Look this  Footwear Magazine  has been there for the last 4 decades and then very smartly they diversified their business in Exhibitions too. 👡 Since 2013 say 3 to 5 exhibitions per year pan India and now eyeing at UAE, Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam too in coming times 👟The strength is their membership of this Footwear print media ,where most distributors from across the country are members. 🥾There are roughly 400 thousand retailers following them, from NE to Gujrat, from South to Srinagar 🥾All three days were  full of crowd. One could feel that it was giving an international look. 👟Yes India Footwear Industry is going to be $90 billion by 2030 as stated by DH. 👠There were 30 thousand distributors from different parts of the country and around 150 thousand walkin. Big company MD and CEO's too were there. 👡I spoke to Mr Saurabh Bairathi CEO Bairathi Footwear Jaipur, I found him very excited about BIS implementation and the future of the Indian Footwear Industry. 🥾The best part about this Footwear Expo is promotion of all small and big footwear companies.I could see footwear for INR 50 to INR 3000 there, mostly non leather products If you actually see 80% of footwear demand is in this category. 👞The comfort and ease factor to handle these exhibitions, the credit goes to Satish who is MD  of the company. What delighted all of us was 150 exhibitors /participants, all with big smiles, why because all of them got business. 🥾Most of the space occupied on an average was 30 sq mtrs 👠Big credit to MSME as well for Big support. 👟It is organised by Mr Satish Sharma MD Dipti Sharma CEO and Mahesh Sharma Director.

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German footwear manufacturer is set to shift production from China to India! Casa Everz GmbH, the owner of the healthy footwear brand Von Wellex, will shift its total shoe production from China. It will start with an initial investment of Rs 110 Crore for the next 2 years. The German brand has 18 factories with 12 licenses across the globe and sells products in 80 countries. Currently, the brand has 2 manufacturing facilities in China, with an annual capacity of 30 Lakh pairs.  As per discussion with the government, the company’s new factory will be set up in UP through a collaboration with Latric Industries Pvt Ltd. Latric Industries Pvt Ltd has a capacity of 5 Lakh pairs for Casa Everz Gmbh where it can produce Von Wellex Germany: 5 Zones Men’s and Women’s shoes. It will have a production capacity of another 5 Lakh pairs for other products. Now, Latric Industries will build a new facility with a capacity of 30 Lakh pairs within the next 2 years. As footwear is one of the top labor-intensive industries in the world, India has a lot to offer and has advantages on 3 fronts: raw material, support from the government, and labor availability. With the Indian economy flourishing fast, India will focus more on improving of quality of made-in-India footwear and reducing imports. “The German company chose India over other locations since it believes that India is going to be the next manufacturing powerhouse of the world if it is well supported by business-conducive government policies," said Latric Industries Pvt Ltd Director and CEO Ashish Jain.  What is your prediction?? Can India become a footwear manufacturing powerhouse?? #india #footwear #manufacturing #retail #brand 

👟 Zytra Insights: Transforming India's Footwear Industry The Indian leather and footwear industry is stepping up as a global contender, with an ambitious vision to elevate employment and expand its market footprint. Here’s what you need to know: 📊 Driving Growth and Employment: Union Minister of Commerce & Industry Piyush Goyal highlighted the sector’s potential to increase employment from 40 lakh to 1 crore, making it a vital contributor to India’s economic growth. 🌍 A Global Opportunity: - India is already the second-largest manufacturer and ninth-largest footwear exporter, and it aspires to become the global leader. - Target: Achieve $50 billion in exports by 2030. - Key Advantage: Leverage Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with ASEAN and European markets to enhance global competitiveness. 🛡️ Ensuring Quality and Fair Competition Quality Control Orders (QCOs): - Aim to prevent substandard imports, protecting domestic manufacturers from unfair competition. - Encourage Indian manufacturers to produce world-class footwear. - Exemptions for MSMEs and fashion footwear manufacturing (up to 72,000 pairs). - Retailers have been granted a two-year window to clear existing stock, ensuring a smooth transition. 🌟 Empowering Domestic Brands Minister Goyal emphasized the need for: - Self-confidence and adaptability to drive change. - Expanding India’s domestic and international market presence. - Transforming Indian brands into global icons. 🌐 Zytra’s Commitment: At Zytra, we recognize the immense potential of India’s leather and footwear industry. We are dedicated to connecting global buyers with premium, ethically crafted products from Asia, empowering artisans and manufacturers to thrive on the world stage. Let’s step forward together to redefine excellence in footwear! 🥿👞 What are your thoughts on India’s vision for the footwear industry? Share them below! #FootwearIndustry #MakeInIndia #GlobalMarkets #QualityControl #Innovation #MSME #Zytra

Allcargo Gati strengthens Agra’s thriving MSME footwear market  Allcargo Gati Limited (formerly Gati), leading premier Express Distribution and Supply Chain Management company, is strengthening its significant contribution to Agra's footwear industry. Specializing in all kinds of footwear for both men and women, Allcargo Gati has been a vital part of this booming business for the past 20 years serving 350 MSMEs in this cluster and there is a significant rise in the sales especially during the festivals like Onam, Muharram, and Eid. Allcargo Gati operates across several key clusters in the region, including Hing Ki Mandi, which represents 50% of the MSME Cluster members with around 550 participants, and along with other clusters such as Shahganj, Tajganj, and Industrial, each comprising about 150 members each. With its major consumer footwear market in the south, Allcargo Gati has also firmly established its presence across India, serving the eastern, northern and western regions making sure that the footwear from Agra reaches markets throughout the nation. Allcargo Gati provides these clusters with reliable and efficient delivery solutions and has adopted the latest automation technologies in warehouses that has significantly enhanced the operational efficiency, accuracy, which helps to optimise costs.  Commenting on the occasion, Mr. Uday Sharma - Chief Commercial Officer of Allcargo Gati Limited, said "The traditional pillars of the local economy in Agra are the leather and marble handicraft industries. "Our long-standing presence in Agra’s footwear market showcases our dedication to local MSMEs. We are excited to expand our presence, adding new kiosks to enhance our service and capture emerging opportunities. We are sure that our improved offerings will increase our impact in this thriving industry." With the introduction of the One District One Product (ODOP) initiative in 2018, the Uttar Pradesh government has been instrumental in bolstering the footwear sector in Agra. Benefits under the ODOP system include financing to industrial units so they can modernize or reorganize. This scheme has positioned Agra to become a global hub for footwear by acting as a catalyst for the growth of the leather footwear industry in the city. Agra’s footwear sector is poised for global recognition, and Allcargo Gati remains at the forefront, delivering consistent and reliable service. AllcargoGATI Uday R. Sharma #msme #footwear

Tamil Nadu's footwear sector is competing with Southeast Asia markets! Apart from setting up new policies for footwear, the government has launched new manufacturing facilities. For example, Phoenix Kothari Footwear and Shoetown Group built a joint venture and opened a new factory under the name of JR One Footwear Pvt Ltd in November 2023. Taiwanese manufacturers like Feng Tay, Pou Chen, and Hong Fu, have signed agreements with the Tamil Nadu government. 3 Reasons behind Tamil Nadu's rise as a footwear manufacturing powerhouse: - Excellent talents. - Existing industrial base. - Useful policies and funding by the government. Today, over 45% of India’s exports in the footwear industry happen from Tamil Nadu alone. Along with the Indian Footwear and Leather Development Program, Free Trade Agreement negotiations and a PLI scheme worth $312 million helped the sector to flourish. Because of the high demand for footwear, investments in infrastructure, rapid urbanization, greater brand awareness, and streamlined production, India can surely become a market leader in footwear space. India's footwear industry is expected to produce 2,226 million pairs by 2028. The global footwear industry stands at $390.1 billion and is expected to reach $503.83 billion by 2028 with a CAGR of 5.25%. There is lots of scope for growth! Do you agree? Have you seen the growth of the footwear sector in India? #manufacturing #india #growth #people #investing