International style footwear and leather show kicks off on Friday

The fourth Footwear & Leather Fair 2012 starting next Friday in Colombo is to be held on par with international standards. It is a collaborative effort of many stakeholders.

“I am pleased to observe that our footwear and leather sector, which is now growing rapidly, engaging more than a 30,000 strong workforce across the country and generating valuable forex inflows, is closely following on the same path as apparels,” said Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen.

Minister Bathiudeen announced this issuing a special pre-exhibition message on the fourth Footwear & Leather Fair 2012 to be held from 10-12 February at the BMICH. Among the international exhibitors participating in the show are representatives from the Indian and Chinese footwear and leather industry.

Special events at the show are a designer award ceremony, an exclusive fashion show and a best stall competition. Among the industry sectors on display are footwear raw material, travel goods, chemicals, leather goods, components and accessories and machinery.

“This show, which began on a small scale in 2007, has now become an international event, drawing exhibitors from industry players in India and China. It is now a collaborative effort of many stakeholders – the Ministry of Industry and Commerce and SLEDB (as organisers), and Industrial Development Board and Sri Lanka Footwear and Leather Products Manufactures Association (as co-organisers). One of the key sectors contributing to our economy in our new resurgence is apparels, which succeeded in giving an international brand appeal to Sri Lanka,” Minister Bathiudeen said.   “Having identified the potential and needs of this industry, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce has ventured to sponsor this event with the Export Development Board at an investment exceeding Rs. 3 million, marking the continuation of assistance and due recognition given to the local footwear and leather industry by encouraging them to display their forte to the local and global markets at an international exhibition. It also provides the opportunity to identify the creativity of the small and medium enterprises and to develop themselves as potential exporters by establishing contacts with large scale manufacturers. I believe that this show will also assist the participants to forge backward and forward industry linkages at both local and international levels so that the growth momentum of the industry continues. In short, for us to compete successfully in this sector, a collaborative approach will be needed,” Minister Bathiudeen added.

Sriyani De Saram, Assistant Director, Industrial Products at the Export Development Board, said: “This event aims at keeping up-to-date with the latest technologies around the world, to meet the suppliers of raw material, components and accessories, to meet the prospective business partners and to identify networking opportunities with the overseas exhibitors, buyers and sellers.”

The Export Development Board is an organiser of this national event.