India targets $7 bn from leather exports

KOLKATA: Government, on Thursday, said it has set an export target of seven billion dollars for leather and leather products during the current financial year.

Speaking to reporters here, Minister of State for Commerce Jairam Ramesh said export revenue during the last financial year was three billion dollars.

He said that leather goods exporters should shift its focus away from Europe to the US market as its size was much bigger.

At present, two-thirds of India's leather and leather goods exports were directed to European markets. "This shift should now be towards the US," Ramesh said.

Besides, leather goods exporters should concentrate on manufacturing women and children footwear to grab a substantial market share. Indian exporters were only focussing on men's footwear till now, he said.

He said although West Bengal accounts for only 15 per cent share in the total exports, 65 per cent of leather goods and garment exports from India was from Kolkata.

Ramesh, who toured the Bantala leather complex near the city, said that the ministry would study the feasibility of setting up a footwear park within its premises on 120 acres.
He said that the ministry would also provide a sum of Rs 10 crore for setting up a footwear design and development institute inside the complex.

The Centre would also set up five centres for leather export development at Chennai, Agra, Kanpur, Nellore and Kolkata.