The 39th edition of the India International Leather Fair will begin in Chennai today. The three-day event will feature a wide range of leather products, accessories, machinery, equipment and innovations. It will also showcase the cutting-edge technologies requirements such as additive manufacturing, AI application in design and data analysis, latest softwares and augmented reality applications and digital enterprises. 

 

The Fair assumes significance for the Indian Industry, especially when Europe and India are committed to shaping a new global order, and the recent Free Trade Agreement will boost economic growth in leather and its allied industries by slashing tariffs on goods, enhancing service sector access and fostering investment, inspired by Vikshit Bharat 2047. 

 

This year, the fair will have participation of 362 Indian Companies and 66 Overseas participants. Participating countries include Germany, Italy, Australia, Argentina, China, Ethiopia, the UK, the UAE, the Netherlands and Saudi Arabia. The export of footwear, leather and leather products from India was around 4.83 billion US dollars in the last financial year. The leather Industry in Tamil Nadu and Kerala is a dominant force in the leather landscape, contributing to around 38 per cent of India’s total output and over 45 per cent of its exports.