Leather industry has been contributing remarkably to India’s export revenues, making it one of the most prominent sectors on the growth trajectory to improve our presence in global markets. As the New Year unfolds, let us look at some key numbers pertaining to the exports. During April – October 2018, exports from India stood at US$ 3.05 billion, with major markets in US (16.73%), Germany (12.31%), UK (11.41%), Italy (7.48%), and France (5.54%). And during the same period exported products included leather footwear (US$ 196 million), leather garments (US$ 295.06 million), finished leather exports (US$ 466.76 million), leather footwear (US$ 1,293.20 million) and leather goods (US$ 799.47 million).

In 2019, we have great scope to improve and out-do our performance by focusing on capacity building through skilled workforce and technology enablement. Equipping workers with latest skills and knowledge, which translates into greater productivity and high-quality outcomes. At the same time, it is important to invest in right technologies and adopt right processes to ensure that we deliver as per global standards. I wish you great success in all your endeavors this year as you grow your business and expand your network globally. I hope your employees get many opportunities to learn and earn more through skill-based training, RPL and apprenticeships. Happy New Year!