India outlines mega leather and footwear clusters across states

Expanding beyond the traditional leather and non-leather footwear hubs of Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh to aggressively boost exports, India’s Federal Government is establishing mega leather, footwear, and accessories clusters across multiple states. The new greenfield facilities will be deployed in Muzaffarpur (Bihar), Sitapur (Madhya Pradesh), and the Raigad district (Maharashtra), alongside Ranipet (Tamil Nadu), representing a cumulative infrastructure investment of Rs 8.98 billion.

Nidhi Kesarwani, India’s Joint Secretary of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), told reporters in Chennai on Monday that the parks have already attracted initial commitments to the tune of Rs 20 billion.

“One of the parks is still coming up in Maharashtra. They are in the initial phases of development. So, it will grow, and I think quite a good amount of investment will be made,” Kesarwani stated, responding to a query regarding total projected investment capitalization. She added that export-led growth will remain a core focus area for the clusters.

The mega leather, footwear, and accessories cluster in Tamil Nadu is being developed at Panapakkam in Ranipet, spanning 290 acres and backed by Rs 12.5 million in the Federal government assistance.

Kesarwani further noted that a specialized Zero Solid Waste Discharge facility will be established at the Ranipet site at a cost of Rs 50 crore. The facility is designed to convert industrial solid waste into commercial-grade salt, advancing environmental sustainability across the local supply chain.

Meanwhile, Petal Dhillon, Joint Secretary, Department of Commerce, stated that a multi-pronged strategy has been adopted to guarantee stable energy and feedstock supplies, including petroleum and gas, ensuring domestic manufacturing operations remain insulated from ongoing West Asia geopolitical crises.