New Delhi, Jan 21 (KNN) Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry told the footwear industry on Friday that BIS and FDDI shall establish testing facilities at the industry clusters. 

He suggested that the creation of Common Facility Centres for moulding and designing with the support of FDDI may be encouraged. 

The Minister noted that Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme was also being considered to create large capacities and promote economies of scale. 

He asked the footwear industry to focus on quality and reduce import dependence to capture a larger share in the international Market. 

Addressing a gathering of over 100 industrialists engaged in manufacturing of sports shoes in India on Friday in New Delhi, he emphasized that Quality Control Orders (QCO) for leather and non-leather footwear would be implemented with effect from 1 July 2023. 

He reiterated that BIS standards need to be followed for better quality and larger production which eventually leads to good quality products for the consumers.

The Minister said that if industry stakeholders provided substantial facts/data regarding under invoicing and under valuing of imports, the government would take action. 

He said that high quality production and for large capacities in the sector is the need of the hour. 

The Minister expressed concern about the importing of low quality and low-cost raw material and said that the tendency needed to be addressed. 

Further he also stressed that dependence on import of machinery needs to be reduced and domestic machinery manufacturers should be encouraged. 

The Minister urged the footwear industry players to strive to assess the quality and standards which consumer expects. 'Improvement in the quality will help gaining importance in global market', he said. 

He also asked footwear manufacturers to make the best possible use of the FTAs that India had signed.   (KNN Bureau)