Footwear fair 2018 responds to new consumer trends

The fourth edition of India International Footwear Fair, a premier specialized B2B event of the India Trade Promotion Organization (ITPO) will be inaugurated by Suresh Prabhu, the Minister of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, on August 2 at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.

The IIFF, which will be held from August 2 – 4, aims at highlighting trends and style to recognizing innovation and breakthrough-talent on an international scale in the footwear sector. Responding to the latest consumer trends, it will feature emerging technologies keeping in pace with the rapidly changing buyers. Apart from unveiling the export potential of India, IIFF also aims to project India as a favorite investment destination.

This year, as many as 205 leading companies including 63 overseas participants from China and Taiwan are taking part. Also, a number of buyers are expected from Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Kenya, Sri Lanka, Tanzania and Uganda at this fair. The Confederation of Indian Footwear Industries (CIFI) is co-organizer of this event which is being organized with the support of apex bodies i.e. CLE, CLRI, IFCOMA, ISF, and IFLMEA in hall 10, 11, 12 and 12A at Pragati Maidan. Display profile covers footwear and footwear components, accessories, synthetic material and PVC/PU, chemicals, machinery, equipment, and technologies.

The fair will open to business visitors from 10.00am to 6.00pm, daily.

IIFF 2018 has an and domestic buyers as the event showcase new designs shoes based on aesthetics, design, fluidity, and functionality. India's leather and non-leather footwear industry are largely Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) intensive which is vital for job creation as well as for the overall socio-economic development of the country. With tremendous scope for investment, this sector is an ideal cradle for the "Make in India" vision that the government has set. With an annual production of 2065 million pairs, India is the second largest footwear producer after China.

Footwear export accounts for 45 percent share in India's total leather and leather products export. Realizing the potential, worth Rs.2,600 crore special package was approved by the Government for employment generation in the leather and footwear sectors in December 2017. The package comprises of implementation of the central scheme 'Indian Footwear, Leather and Accessories Development Programme' with an approved expenditure from 2017-18 to 2019-20.