Taiwanese, Vietnamese Firms Eye India’s Non-Leather Footwear Market

New Delhi, Jul 14 (KNN) Companies from Taiwan and Vietnam are showing strong interest in investing in India’s growing non-leather footwear sector, according to the Council for Leather Exports (CLE).

Chairman R.K. Jalan emphasized the need for government support to enable smooth import of essential materials like shoe soles, moulds, machinery, and fabrics—mostly sourced from China.

“Vietnamese and Taiwanese firms are eager to establish manufacturing units in India. For this, hassle-free import of components is critical,” Jalan said.

India's footwear and leather exports touched USD 5.75 billion in 2024–25, and CLE is targeting USD 7 billion by 2025–26.

The United States emerged as the largest export market with shipments worth USD 957 million, accounting for nearly 20 per cent of the total, followed by the UK (11 per cent) and Germany.

Jalan also highlighted that India expects around 18 per cent export growth this year, driven by rising manufacturing activity and job creation. He stressed that a trade agreement with the US could significantly boost India’s share in that market, where the sector currently faces an 18.5 per cent import duty.

Vietnam and Taiwan are key players in the global footwear industry—Vietnam excels in mass production while Taiwan is a leader in design and technology. Their entry into India could significantly improve the quality of domestic output.

Jalan urged the government to implement the focused product scheme for the leather and footwear sectors, announced in the Budget, to improve competitiveness, design capability, and component manufacturing.

Supporting the view, Yadvendra Singh Sachan, MD of Kanpur-based Growmore International Ltd, noted that Taiwanese firms have already invested in Tamil Nadu. He also highlighted vast investment potential in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, due to affordable labour and growth-friendly conditions.

(KNN Bureau)