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| Sunday, 9 February 2003 |
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Footwear industry gets new lease of life The Indian Footwear Components Manufacturers Association (IFCOMA) Buyer Seller Meeting and Exhibition was held in Sri Lanka last week for the first time in the history of the local shoe industry. It was attended by 20 Indian companies and all footwear manufacturers, traders and importers from Sri Lanka. Deputy High Commissioner for India Mohan Kumar said it is time the two countries moved towards exporting high-tech industrial items, instead of the traditional food items. At present trade between the two countries is worth around US$ 700 million, but is in India's favour. "Therefore, we need to encourage more exports from Sri Lanka," he added. Kumar said the Free Trade Agreement between the two countries will be extended to the services sector as well in the near future. Secretary Ministry of Enterprise Development, Industrial Policy and Investment Promotion Ranjit Fernando, who was the chief guest, requested shoe manufacturers to reach the upper end of the market with Indian collaboration. He said the Government agreed to impose a duty on imported shoes for a limited period to bring local manufacturers out of their present difficulties. Therefore, it is the local manufacturers' duty to collaborate with their Indian counterparts and compete. Shoe manufacturers should look beyond the domestic market by being competitive not only on inputs, but on outputs as well. Fernando assured all support for the shoe industry through the establishment of a warehouse to bring down components from India. President IFCOMA Mani Almal said the Association is trying to promote footwear and components in the region and that Sri Lanka is on this agenda. "We are planning to have a warehouse in Sri Lanka to reduce the turnaround time of sourcing components from India." Almal said that India has backward integrated industries as well as raw materials which is a great boon for manufacturers. India produces around 1700 million pairs of footwear and is also an exporter to the world's major branded buyers. It has a strong raw materials base to manufacture components and accessories. Footwear and components are produced in different parts of the country and the national demand of manufacturers is met domestically. Indian footwear components are accepted by global footwear manufacturers and buyers like Salamander, Adidas, Reebok, Marks and Spencer, Clarks and ECCO. All leading Indian footwear brands like Red Tape, Oakridge, Liberty, Lee Cooper, Bata and Action are also produced using Indian components. He said that Sri Lanka has everything for the industry be it technology or skills, except for components. Therefore, reducing the duty on shoe components will boost the industry. The event was organised by the Ceylon National Chamber of Industries in association with the German Private Sector Programme, Industrial Development Board and Sri Lanka Footwear Association. |
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