• Entrepreneurs & government seen on one stage in CLE Conclave
• Brainstorming on making India a world leader in the leather sector
New Delhi. Leather, Accessories, Footwear Conclave ‘LAFCAN-2023’ was organized by Council for Leather Exports (CLE) Northern Region at Hotel ITC Maurya, New Delhi. The conclave was attended by entrepreneurs from the leather sector & policy controllers from the Department of Commerce and Foreign Trade, Government of India.
The Conclave was inaugurated by Chief Guest Director General of Foreign Trade, Department of Commerce, Government of India Santosh Sarangi (IAS), Special Guest Additional Secretary DPIIT Rajeev Singh Thakur (IAS) & CLE Chairman Sanjay Leekha, Vice Chairman R.K. Jalan, Northern Regional Chairman Motilal Sethi and AFMEC President Puran Dawar jointly lit the lamp.
The inaugural session began with the welcome address by Motilal Sethi, Regional Chairman, who is organizing and hosting the conclave. The panellists present in various sessions presented their views on issues related to the leather sector.
Chief Guest Director General of Foreign Trade, Department of Commerce, Government of India Santosh Sarangi (IAS) while addressing the present entrepreneurs highlighted the export promotion policies of the Central Government and said that India is emerging as a fast growing economic superpower in the world today. The government and entrepreneurs are moving shoulder to shoulder towards realizing the vision of a prosperous and developed India.
Special Guest Additional Secretary, Industrial Policy and Promotion Department, Rajeev Singh Thakur appreciated the role of DPIIT in speeding up market access and delivery of exporters. Director General of Foreign Trade, Department of Commerce, Government of India, Santosh Sarangi, stating the important points of India’s Foreign Trade Policy 2023, called it a boon for exports. CLE Chairman Sanjay Leekha while addressing said that today a positive atmosphere has been created due to mutual coordination between the government & entrepreneurs, this is a positive sign to achieve our upcoming goals. In his special address, RK Jalan, Vice Chairman, CLE drew the attention of the people on the challenges and opportunities in the leather sector. Northern Regional Chairman Motilal Sethi gave detailed information on the efforts made by CLE for industrial promotion & Development.
In this way the target of $47 billion will be achieved
The conclave had panel discussions in two sessions which were moderated by Northern Regional Chairman Motilal Sethi. The first session brainstormed on the 7S formula – Skill, Scale, Speed, Sustainability, Supply Chain, Style, Sales to achieve the target of $47 billion by 2030. In which Dean of Pearl Academy Emanuel Maia highlighted the role of design, style, fashion & branding in taking the leather and footwear sector to the next level, while Tatheer Raza Zaidi, General Manager, Solidaridad Asia, addressed the emerging issue of environmental sustainability in India’s leather and footwear sector. Keep your point. IFCOMA President Sanjay Gupta gave your suggestions to strengthen the supply chain. FDDI MD Arun Kumar Sinha emphasized on the need for skilling in the leather and footwear industry at Skill India. Mukhtarul Amin, former president and COA, CLE, & Aqeel Ahmed discussed the challenges faced by leather & footwear exporters from India. Former Regional President, CLE, Puran Dawar effectively brought forth the role of sales & marketing in increasing footwear exports from India.
Such should be the road map for the next generation in the leather sector
The final session discussed the road map to 2047 for the next generation in the leather and footwear sector with globalization of Indian brands. Harkirat Singh, MD, Woodland, V. Noushad, MD, Walkaroo International, Karan Sethi, Director, Saroj International Leather Fashion, Varun Kapoor, Director, Capsons, Ashish Bansal, Country Head, Brand Folio, Abhishek Tripathi, Lead Fashion Accessories & Raymond Apparel Ltd. shared their experiences shared.
Veterans Receive Export Awards for Excellence
Exporters from the northern region of India were awarded for excellence in the leather sector. Sunil Sethi, Chairman & Founder, Fashion Design Council of India, MD, Design Alliance & Alliance Merchandising Company, attended as the Chief Guest. He presented FMEC President Puran Davar and BCCI President Subhash Jagga for excellence in entrepreneurship as well as social concern. Awarded the Achievement Award. The other categories include Vijay Bhaduria of Mirza International, Gopal Gupta of Gupta H.C. Overseas, Raj Chawla of Bhartiya International, Angad Dhawan of Tangerine Design, Gautam Mehra of Liner Shoes, Ritesh Dua of Relaxo Footwear, Deepak Sehgal of Apollo International and as women entrepreneurs Anandika Leekha Tandon of Alpine Apparels Group, Dalbir Kaur of Roger Industries, Jyotsna Sharma of BN Enterprises were presented with the Export Award.
They also had a special role
Vikram Singh, Head of Investment Strategy, British High Commission, with John Southwell, Commissioner for Investment and Trade, and the delegations of India and Bhutan to the European Union, at the Conclave, Diplomat, investment banker and corporate advisor Vijay Mehta, FAFM President Kuldeep Singh Kohli were specially present. At the end, the vote of thanks to the guests was done by IAS R Selvam, Executive Director of CLE.
