India – Not only the world’s tannery but also dominant in leather goods and accessories

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India Not only the worlds tannery but also
dominant in leather goods and accessories Leather
is one of the most widely traded commodities
globally and Indias leather industry is one of
its oldest manufacturing industries with a
prominent place in the Indian economy. The
Indian leather manufacturing industry has been
catering to the global market from the 19th
century and accounts for around 13 of the
world's leather production of hides/skins and
handles a robust annual production of about
3 billion square feet of leather. This
industry is an employment intensive industry
providing jobs to more than 4 billion people. The
major part of the leather is produced in the
southern part of India, i.e., Tamil Nadu, the
largest leather producer state with 40 of
the countrys leather production. India has
an abundance of raw materials with access to 20
of the world's cattle and buffalo and 11 of the
world's goat and sheep population. Leather is
known for substantial export earnings and is
among the top 10 foreign exchange earners
for the country. India is the 2nd largest
producer and exporter of footwear and
leather garments and the 5th largest
exporter of leather goods accessories in the
world. The famous leather goods
manufacturers in India like Bata India Ltd.,
Bhartiya International Ltd., Farida Group,
Lakhani Armaan Group etc. manufacture
products ranging from designer collections
to personal leather accessories such as bags,
handbags, hand gloves and industrial gloves,
wallets etc.
Financial Support and Incentives by Government of
India Under the Indian Footwear, Leather
Accessories Development Program (IFLADP) by the
Make-In India movement, sub-schemes like
integrated development of the leather sector,
mega leather, footwear and accessories cluster,
leather technology, innovation and environmental
are the kind of financial support that is being
provided by the Government of India. The
government is helping in the promotion of Indian
brands in the leather, footwear and accessories
sector and the export of value-added products
which will boost the sector as a whole, by
reducing the price of importing essential
components for manufacturing leather goods, which
are requested by overseas buyers. Finance
Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in her budget 2022
announced that the leather and footwear industry
is looking to expand its export turnover from USD
5.09 billion in 2019-20 to USD 10 billion by
2025-26 and the domestic industry turnover from
USD 12 billion in 2019-20 to USD 20 billion by
2025-26 and the Union Budget 2022-23 will
immensely help in achieving these targets. The
Government of India is likely to extend the
incentive scheme IFLADP for the leather footwear
manufacturing industry till 2025-26. The National
Manufacturing Policy has identified leather as a
special focus sector for growth and employment
generation.
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• Especially, women's employment is predominant in
  the leather industry with about 30 share. India
  has trade agreements with Japan, Korea, and Chile
  etc. and is negotiating free trade agreements
  with the European Union as well.
• Major Export Markets, Products Quality
• The major markets for Indian Leather and Leather
  products are the USA, Germany, UK, Italy, France,
  Spain, UAE, Netherlands and Belgium. Apart from
  footwear, other items such as garments, handbags,
  bags, gloves, wallets, briefcases, upholstery,
  saddlery items, belts, and folios are also made
  in India and are being exported worldwide.
• The products made, meet the standards and
  requirements of bulk buyers from Australia, the
  EU, and the US.
• The strong facts about Indian Leather Industry
• Own raw material source, with a strong and
  eco-sustainable tanning base.
• Modernized manufacturing units with trained
  manpower at a competitive wage level.
• Constant human resource development program to
  enhance overall leather productivity.
• Increasing use of quality components.
• Strategic location in the Asian landmass.