The Footwear and Leather Fair 2019 kicks off on Friday at BMICH

Industry and Commerce, Resettlement of Protracted Displaced Persons and Co-operative Development Minister Rishad Bathiudeen will ceremoniously declare open the Footwear and Leather Fair 2019 at the Sirimavo Bandaranaike Memorial Exhibition Centre, BMICH premises, Colombo, at 10 am on Friday, 25 January, in the presence of the distinguished gathering, which will include participants from India, China, Pakistan and Singapore. 

The event is organised for the 11th consecutive year by the Sri Lanka Footwear and Leather Products Manufacturers Association (SLFLPMA), in collaboration with the Centre for the Development of Leather Products and Footwear of the Industrial Development Board (IDB), a key partner of the Fair along with the Export Development Board (EDB), DSI, and several other organisations involved in the industry.

On arrival, the Minister will be taken to the Fairgrounds by newly appointed IDB Chairman Naveen Adikarama, in the company of Director General P. L. U. Ratnamalala, Marketing and Media Director Sarath Udayasiri, and Assistant Director in charge of the Centre for the Development of Leather Products and Footwear Amaranath Wimalasinghe along with the officials of the SLFLPMA Association. 

The Exhibition and Fair will be open to the public from 25-27 January, from 9.00 am onwards daily.

The Fair and Exhibition, organised by the Association under the able guidance and support of the Centre for the Development of Leather Products and Footwear of the Industrial Development Board of Ceylon (IDB), Katubedda, Moratuwa, and the Industry and Commerce, Resettlement of Protracted Displaced Persons and Co-operative Development Ministry, along with the Export Development Board (EDB), which pioneered the Exhibition in the year 2007.

The Centre for the Development of Leather Products and Footwear of the Industrial Development Board (IDB), was established under the Act No. 36 of Industrial Development, to upgrade the Sri Lanka Sector in 1998, and this Centre conducts short- and long-term courses related to leather products and footwear productions.

The Centre is also a key supplier of skilled workers and a provider of information suitable to facilitate those involved in this industry.

The Fair will be the showcase to the public to know how the Footwear and Leather industry in Sri Lanka plays a significant role in harnessing the talents of local youth, including those pursuing university education in the fields of art and craft, to earn much-needed foreign exchange and assist in strengthening the economy of the country.

The Exhibition and Fair show in silence manifest capacity it has to create employment opportunities to those with talents in this particular field of social importance. It would also be the guiding star to those with talent and keen to follow the path, to purse employment opportunities available leading to their destined future.

The Exhibition and Fair also turns out to be the venue buyers and sellers meet, and those visiting would be able to buy the quality goods at very affordable price, as the dealing is direct without a third party at the 250 stalls set up within the exhibition grounds.

One other objective or aims of the Fair is to support them to upgrade their technological capabilities and encourage them to move into manufacture of value-added products to cater to the international market.

The Fair, which now has turned out to be an annual event, has contributed immensely to create an impressive awareness of the Sri Lanka Footwear and Leather industry both locally and internationally.

The industry caters to the entrepreneurship in the country by providing direct and indirect employment to over 50,000 via large export-oriented companies. It is a highly labour-incentive industry focusing attention on outstanding quality, and covers a very comprehensive range of products.