Chennai, Feb 1: “India International Leather Fair (IILF) has not only served as the biggest display platform of state-of-the-art technologies and innovations, but has been the flag bearer of the Indian footwear and leather industry, reflecting its huge growth. The fair has always attracted huge participation of exhibitors and visitors from India and abroad and has the distinction of being the first fair held at the Chennai Trade Centre, way back in 2001” said Shri Ramesh Juneja, Chairman, Council for Leather Exports (CLE).
Inauguration of the IILF 2026 is scheduled at 10.30 am on February 1, 2026 at the foyer area of new halls 2 & 3 in Chennai Trade Centre. The fair will display the entire range of products relating to leather and footwear industry from raw materials to finished products. Germany and Italy will be having their country pavilions. Like last year, IILF 2026 will have exhibition stands in the newly built halls also.
Shri Ramesh Juneja added “At a time when India is looked upon as a major production and sourcing hub, IILF will provide a major platform for display of modern technologies and for entering into short term and long-term business tie-ups. I am happy to note that IILF 2026 has attracted more than 425 national exhibitors and about 67 exhibitors from overseas countries”
Shri R. Selvam, Executive Director, CLE said “The India – EU Free Trade Agreement is a major boon to the Indian footwear and leather industry as European Union is our largest market contributing for 43% of exports. The India EU FTA with 0% import duty in EU for footwear and leather sector will open-up new opportunities for our exporters and will help in achieving our envisaged export target of USD 14 billion by 2030. The India – EU FTA will enhance India – EU co-operation, not only in the area of sourcing but also in the area of investments”.
Shri R. Selvam, Executive Director, CLE added “We have also requested the Government to implement the Focus Product Scheme for the entire footwear and leather sector, covering all product segments as well as critical inputs and raw materials, so as to develop the entire production eco system in the country and to attract national and overseas investments. Implementation of this scheme is very important to achieve our envisaged turnover target of USD 50 billion by 2029-30 (which includes domestic turnover of USD 36 billion and export turnover of USD 14 billion), as against existing turnover of USD 24.6 billion during 2024-25 (which includes domestic turnover of USD 19 billion and export turnover of USD 5.6 billion)
Shri M. Abdul Wahab, Regional Chairman (South), CLE said “During IILF, CLE is also organising the concurrent event “Designer Fair” at the Convention Centre in Chennai Trade Centre (Stand Numbers CC 10 A to E). The Designers Fair will witness the participation of overseas designers from Italy, USA and Portugal. This fair will provide opportunity to Indian manufacturers and exporters to meet popular designers and explore long term tie-ups for design development”.
Shri R. Selvam, Executive Director, CLE said “As part of export promotion efforts, CLE has organized 17 overseas export promotion events during April 2025 to January 2026, in ten countries namely Italy, UAE, UK, Australia, Bangladesh, Russia, Poland, China, Vietnam and Malaysia. During February and March 2026, we are planning to organize ten more overseas marketing events. Our events have helped in not only promoting the image of India as a reliable supplier of high quality products, but also in forging short term and long term business tie-ups”
Shri R. Selvam, Executive Director, CLE added “The huge growth potential of the industry has resulted in many foreign investments coming to India, particularly in the footwear sector. There is huge scope to get more investments and joint ventures in the products and also in the components sector. CLE has also organized investment promotion events in many countries including China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Japan, Poland, UK and Russia. The increasing interest shown by foreign companies to establish their production units in India is a very good sign as this will not only enhance our exports, but will also strengthen our supply chain”
Shri Ramesh Juneja, Chairman, CLE added “We thank the Government of India for the wonderful support provided to the leather & footwear industry. You are aware that the Government has announced tax rationalization measures in Union Budget 2025-26. This includes removal of 20% export duty on crust leathers and 10% import duty on wet blue leathers. We have requested the Government to remove the 10% import duty for crust and finished leathers also. We hope that this will be favourably considered in the upcoming Union Budget 2026-27. This will be a major support measure for promoting manufacture and export of value added products from the country”.
On the whole, the India International Leather Fair 2026 and concurrent events will witness series of events which will open-up new window of opportunities for the overall growth and development of Indian leather and footwear sector.