Council for Leather Exports at Vietnam Footwear Summit

Ramesh Juneja, Chair of the Council for Leather Exports (CLE), and its Vice-Chair Mukhtarul Amin attended the Vietnam Footwear Summit, which took place from 16 to 18 September 2026 at the Mai House Saigon Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Speaking on behalf of the CLE, they highlighted India’s growing production capacity and the opportunities for investment and close cooperation between the Indian and Vietnamese footwear industries. Mukhtarul Amin set out the growth prospects and capabilities of the Indian footwear and leather industry, highlighting the opportunities for Vietnamese companies to explore investments, joint ventures and technical partnerships in India. 

The CLE highlighted India’s position as the world’s second-largest manufacturer and consumer of footwear and fifth-largest exporter by volume. Vietnam’s position as the world’s second-largest footwear exporter by volume has provided a solid framework for exploring cooperation between two major Asian footwear-producing countries. The sector’s Vision 2030 forecasts a combined turnover for the footwear and leather goods sector of 50 billion dollars by 2029-30, 36 billion dollars of which will come from the domestic market and 14 billion dollars from exports. The Council also highlighted opportunities for technical cooperation in product engineering, design development and workforce training. Technological partnerships could extend to automation, robotics, artificial intelligence and the development of digital products, as well as solutions aimed at improving resource efficiency and manufacturing productivity. A key feature of the presentation was the emphasis placed on India’s rich craftsmanship tradition and the potential for linking the country’s craft districts with global fashion and luxury markets.

The Kolhapuri sandal and its link to Prada’s ‘Made in India’ project were presented as an example of how traditional Indian footwear craftsmanship can gain recognition on international luxury markets. This example has demonstrated the potential of collaborations that team traditional Indian skills with contemporary design, global branding and access to international retail markets. Lastly, Ramesh Juneja and Mukhtarul Amin invited the international footwear industry to visit India for the Bharat Footwear and Leather Expo (BFLEX), scheduled to take place on 15-16 March 2027 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. Organised by CLE, the procurement fair will bring together leather and non-leather footwear, leather goods, hides and components, offering international buyers and industry representatives the opportunity to explore India’s manufacturing and procurement capabilities under one roof.