Seeking support from the states to develop footwear industry, Commerce & Industry Minister Suresh Prabhu promised them to give land and necessary infrastructure required for setting up big clusters for footwear industry.

Indian footwear Industry is one industry which has huge potential to grow in long term, said Minister of Commerce and Industry, Suresh Prabhu.

He was speaking at the fourth edition of India International Footwear Fair, a premier specialized B2B event of the India Trade Promotion Organization (ITPO).

Inaugurating the event here today he said with 7.3 billion population of the world, the demand for footwear and shoes is going to increase many fold.

The time has come to strategize and make India a global hub for catering global demand from these hot spots, he added.

In this direction, industry and government will jointly strategize a plan for this sector which will take into account all the aspects from raw materials to manpower including how to link this sector with global markets and therefore global supply chain, said Prabhu.

He stressed on setting up of manufacturing facilities or capacities not just to cater to local markets or national markets but to cater global market.

Further he added that this industry will create huge employment opportunities being labor intensive.

Taking the complete responsibility of making this sector a hub for global manufacturing of footwear and allied industries, Prabhu said “we have already given leather package of 2600 crore which involves many things like modernization of leather industry, common effluent treatment plants, skill development etc.

Promoting this industry in an aggressive way, Prabhu is in talks with all state chief ministers that they must support this industry.

He also promised to give land and necessary infrastructure required for setting up big clusters for footwear industry for which 6 states will be identified.

He further added that the Africa and India could also collaborate as a part of global supply chain based on relative advantage.

Besides, Prabhu added that in the last few months, exports have been growing at almost 20% which is a good sign. However, he added that the global situation for trade is not very conducive and thus to address this the government has a proper strategy.