Russia offers ample export opportunities to Indian leather and footwear industry, according to the Council for Leather Exports (CLE), whose chairman Panaruna Aqeel Ahmed recently said though Russia imported leather and footwear worth $3.9 billion in 2018, India’s exports to that country stood at only $52.6 million, clearly pointing to prospects of penetration. Russia is the 13th largest global importer of leather, leather products and footwear. CLE is not only exploring participation in fairs like Mosshoes, but also collaboration with Russian trade and business associations by inviting them to participate in reverse buyer-seller meets in India. Ahmed led a delegation of 24 leading Indian exporters of leather products and footwear to Russia last week to participate in the Mosshoes Fair in Moscow. India’s total export of leather and footwear products was worth $5.7 billion in 2018-19. The current major export destinations for the sector include Europe and the United States.
