A three-day show on international shoes and leather accessories, called Expo Riva Schuh India is set to begin at Pragati Maidan from 28th to 30th July in Delhi. The show is jointly being organized by Riva del Garda, the management company of the Trentino fair and congress centre, and India Trade Promotion Organisation.
The exhibiton will be inaugrated at 10:30 am by Anand Sharma, the Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, and will showcase around 91 international and 50 Indian brands offering footwear and leather accessories, handbags, luggage, belts and gloves, including names like Cerrutti, Valentino, Alicante, Blue Star SRL, Amit Leather Company, CD International and De Fonseca.
Speaking on the occasion, Roney Simon, managing drector, Expo Riva Schuh India, said: "There was a great need for an international leather fair in India and this trade fair will make India a global hub for sourcing leather, shoes, garments and finished goods. The exhibition will further establish the importance of India in the world leather market introducing improved practices and cutting edge technologies to produce quality leather products."
He added that the entire footwear retail market is expected to rise by 20 per cent by 2012. The emerging middle class is becoming more quality and fashion conscious and willing to spend more on the premium brands. Western luxury brands have opened shops in India and all the big cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderbad and Pune stand a witness to the rapidly evolving Indian market.
Ali Ahmed Khan, executive director, Council for Leather Exports, said that the participating Italian brands decided to enter the Indian market only after a proper study. He added that to promote the Indian leather industry mega leather clusters are being planned in cities like Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. Indian leather industry is looking for joint ventures with countries like North Africa for raw material and also trying to penetrate its reach in Japan and Russia.
The objective of the exhibiton is to provide a business platform for the Indian and international buyers.
-IndiaRetailing Bureau
