The Hindu Business Line : ILPA in talks with BOT firm for Kolkata leather park

WORK pertaining to the proposed leather goods park at Bantala near Kolkata, where the Calcutta Leather Complex (CLC) is coming up, is expected to begin soon.

Speaking to newspersons on the various highlights of the three-day 10th edition of the International Leather Goods Fair (ILGF), which began on Sunday, Mr S.S. Kumar, President of Council for Leather Exports (CLE), said that the Indian Leather Products Association (ILPA) has taken up the task and is already in talks with a BOT party with whom an agreement is expected to be signed soon.

The party will develop the land at an agreed price and subsequently allot the same for members. While ILPA will manage the leather park, CLE will have a facilitating role, he added.

On the 10th ILGF 2004, organised by India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) in active collaboration with CLE, ILPA, CLRI, the West Bengal Government and the Bengal National Chamber of Commerce & Industry (BNCCI), Mr Kumar said that it has already emerged as a major forum for exchange of ideas among various sections of leather goods industry, and also with international buyers, who now recognise Indian capabilities in design and manufacture of value-added leather products.

Mr Kumar said that CLE, ILPA and Freya, the Design Studio, are co-ordinating the one-to-one meetings between foreign businesspersons and their Indian counterparts for interaction regarding joint ventures, technical collaborations, etc.

Importers and wholesalers of leather goods from different parts of the world are also expected to visit the fair.

The fair will see the participation of 50 leading leather exporters from around the country, besides visitors from Italy, France, Germany and other countries, including manufacturers of machinery and accessories.

ITPO and CLE, with the help of Freya, have invited buyers from Australia, Belgium, France, Germany, Holland, Hungary, Israel, Japan, Portugal, Spain and the UK.

The fair is showcasing a wide range of leather products like handbags, wallets, portfolios, briefcases, belts, sports goods, leather upholstery, travel bags, hand gloves and industrial goods.

Stating that the Indian leather goods industry has been recording dynamic growth trends, in both production and exports, Mr Kumar said that the eastern region was accounting for nearly two-thirds of the total leather goods exports from the country.

The main markets are said to be the US and West European countries.

India's exports of leather and leather products in 2003-04 stood at $2.1 billion, an increase of 11.7 per cent over the previous year's figure of $1.9 billion.

Going by the trends in the first six months of the current fiscal, export growth is expected to be around nine per cent in 2004-05, Mr Kumar said.

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