ITPO aims to position India as a global footwear manufacturing hub

The India International Footwear Fair (IIFF) 2026 successfully concluded its latest edition on 8th August 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. Addressing delegates during the valedictory session, Jawed Ashraf, Chairman of the India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO), outlined an ambition growth blueprint to transform the domestic footwear industry into an export hub and significantly scale up India's footprint in international trade promotion.

Highlighting the structural nature of the sector, Ashraf noted that footwear manufacturing relies heavily on both technology and labour. "I believe we can expand this exhibition to 40,000 to 50,000 square metres of space," stated Ashraf, emphasizing the goal to elevate IIFF along with top-tier global footwear trade fairs.

"This is a labour-intensive industry, but at the same time, it also relies on technology. I have personal experience that the footwear industry operates much like the car manufacturing industry, a dedicated assembly line exists for footwear, involving numerous components while requiring a significant amount of labour."

According to ITPO, the global footwear market currently represents a $180 billion opportunity, growing at an annual rate of 7–8 per cent. Rapid domestic urbanisation, rising disposable incomes, changing consumer lifestyles, and surging seasonal demands, such as non-leather footwear, are driving robust internal demand within India.

Beyond domestic consumption, Ashraf pointed out that India’s expanding network of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) offers an unprecedented competitive edge. India has secured duty-free access across 38 countries, including Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, ASEAN member states, the UAE, Mauritius, EFTA nations, alongside pending agreements with the UK and the European Union. "FTAs have opened large doors for us; we should think about how we can fully leverage these opportunities," he remarked.

To capitalise on these FTAs, ITPO is planning a multi-pronged strategy focused on capacity building, global participation, and export readiness. Ashraf stated that the first objective will be to elevate the India International Footwear Fair to a global scale across parameters such as booth capacity, quality benchmarks, and international participation at home. He further noted that ITPO will participate at a much larger scale in international footwear exhibitions with robust preparation and strong branding, bringing Indian manufacturers together under a unified ‘Team India’ umbrella across different segments.

Addressing export readiness, he highlighted a key partnership with the Department of Commerce and the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) to roll out nationwide training programmes over the next six to seven months, prioritising MSME exporters in the footwear sector to help them effectively leverage Free Trade Agreements. Additionally, the chairman outlined a plan to establish 20 to 25 overseas ITPO offices in the coming years to provide direct market-entry assistance to Indian exporters, starting with five initial locations. Ashraf noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has placed explicit emphasis on ITPO delivering targeted support to labour-intensive sectors, including farming, textiles, footwear, leather, and toys.

Setting a clear strategic objective for the domestic sector, Ashraf urged stakeholders to move beyond India's current 2 per cent share of the global footwear market. "It is embarrassing that at present India's share in the global footwear market stands at just 2 per cent," Ashraf stated. "We must work with firm resolve to raise this share to at least 10 per cent, and in the coming years, surpass our competitors like Vietnam so that India has the largest share in the global footwear market." ITPO along with other stakeholders aims to attract leading multinational footwear brands to exhibit at IIFF, encouraging them to establish manufacturing plants in India, partner with domestic MSMEs, and scale up local exports.

Concluding his address, Ashraf congratulated the organizing committee, CIFI leadership, and Union Minister for Textiles Giriraj Singh. Preparations for the next edition of the India International Footwear Fair, scheduled for July 8–11, 2027, will begin immediately to drive the event to higher operational benchmarks.