FTAs To Boost India’s Leather, Footwear Exports To USD 14 Bn By 2030: CLE

New Delhi, Jul 8 (KNN) Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) finalised by India are expected to create significant opportunities for the leather goods and footwear sector, helping boost exports to USD 14 billion by 2030, the Council for Leather Exports (CLE) said.

CLE Chairman Ramesh Kumar Juneja, speaking at the presentation of the CLE Export Excellence Awards 2026 on July 6, noted that the industry is eagerly awaiting a trade pact with the United States — India’s largest export destination for the sector — which could provide Indian exporters a competitive edge through preferential market access.

FTAs with regions such as the European Union, the UK and New Zealand would define the next chapter of growth for the industry, he added.

Export and Turnover Targets

Juneja said, "Our industry aims to make optimum use of these emerging opportunities and reach an export target of USD 14 billion by 2030, as part of an overall industry turnover target of USD 50 billion," PTI reported.

He highlighted that trade agreements already in force with the UAE, Oman, Mauritius, Australia, and the European Free Trade Association bloc of Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein had aided domestic exporters, placing the sector on equal or better footing than global competitors.

India's leather and footwear exports stood at USD 4.75 billion in the last fiscal, with Tamil Nadu accounting for USD 1.59 billion, or nearly 37 per cent, of the country's exports from the sector. Women make up over 40 per cent of the state's workforce in the industry. 

The sector has recorded positive growth in exports to several key markets, including the UAE, the Netherlands, Australia, South Korea, Russia and Japan.

Employment and Action Plan

Juneja emphasised that the industry's five-year plan aims to generate employment for an additional 2.2 million people while reaching a total turnover of USD 50 billion by 2030. 

He said the Council would pursue a comprehensive action plan to convert the opportunity into reality, including an aggressive overseas marketing plan, deeper tie-ups with international leather and footwear industry associations, strengthening of the domestic supply chain, active efforts to attract foreign direct investment from large global companies, and organising large-scale exhibitions.

(KNN Bureau)