The European Union is currently the largest market for India’s footwear and leather products, accounting for nearly 43 per cent of total exports from the sector

The recently concluded India–European Union Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is expected to provide a major push to India’s footwear and leather industry by opening up fresh export opportunities and strengthening trade and investment ties, a senior official of the Council for Leather Exports (CLE) said on Saturday.

The European Union is currently the largest market for India’s footwear and leather products, accounting for nearly 43 per cent of total exports from the sector. With the FTA providing for zero per cent import duty on footwear and leather products entering the EU, exporters are likely to gain a significant competitive edge, CLE Executive Director R Selvam said while speaking to reporters in Chennai.

He noted that the agreement would help the industry move closer to its long-term export target of USD 14 billion by 2030. Beyond trade, the FTA is also expected to enhance cooperation between India and the EU in areas such as sourcing, technology, and investments, strengthening the overall ecosystem of the leather and footwear sector.

India and the European Union formally sealed the landmark free trade agreement on January 27, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and senior EU leaders describing it as a transformative deal aimed at boosting trade, defence cooperation, and a rules-based global order.

Selvam also urged the Centre to implement the Focus Product Scheme for the footwear and leather sector, stating that policy support was critical to achieving the industry’s ambitious turnover target of USD 50 billion by 2029–30. This includes a projected domestic turnover of USD 36 billion and exports of USD 14 billion.

At present, the footwear and leather sector has a total turnover of USD 24.6 billion, with domestic sales contributing USD 19 billion and exports accounting for USD 5.6 billion, he added.

Selvam, along with CLE Chairman Ramesh Juneja and other senior officials, was in Chennai to announce the 39th edition of the India International Leather Fair (IILF) 2026, scheduled to be held from February 1 at the Chennai Trade Centre.

Juneja said the IILF has emerged as the largest platform for showcasing advanced technologies, innovations, and products in the Indian footwear and leather industry. The three-day event will feature the entire value chain, from raw materials to finished leather and footwear products. Germany and Italy will participate with exclusive country pavilions.

He added that the fair has attracted over 425 domestic exhibitors and around 67 overseas exhibitors. CLE Regional Chairman (South) M Abdul Wahab said a Designer Fair would also be organised alongside the event, bringing together designers from Italy, the United States, and Portugal to explore long-term collaborations with Indian manufacturers and exporters.