ITPO: Driving India's global footwear footprint through trade fairs

The steady ascent of India’s leather and footwear sector stands as a definitive masterclass in institutional synergy and strategic trade promotion. Over the past three decades, what began as a traditional, fragmented manufacturing sector has successfully evolved into a sophisticated global powerhouse. This fundamental shift was not accidental; it was carefully shaped through the premier business-to-business platforms engineered by the India Trade Promotion Organisation, most notably the India International Leather Fair in Chennai and the India International Footwear Fair in New Delhi. By transitioning trade fairs from mere stalls and brochures into dynamic, full-scale value-chain ecosystems, these platforms have rewritten the narrative of Indian manufacturing, charting a clear course from low-margin assembly to design autonomy.

The next critical milestone in this developmental trajectory is the upcoming tenth edition of the India International Footwear Fair 2026, scheduled to take place from August 6 to 8, 2026, at the state-of-the-art Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. Jointly hosted by the India Trade Promotion Organisation and the Confederation of Indian Footwear Industries, this premier event is poised to host over 200 exhibitors and attract more than 15,000 corporate visitors. In the run-up to the fair, Lt. Col. Harsh Kondilya, Official On Special Duty at the India Trade Promotion Organisation, revealed that organizers are currently in the planning stage, with several new updates and developments on the way. To build momentum ahead of the fair, the trade body is actively conducting promotional roadshows across key footwear hubs, having recently hosted an event in Jaipur, with upcoming sessions scheduled in Calicut and Agra over successive Saturdays.

This edition arrives at a crucial economic juncture, buoyed by recent Free Trade Agreements and sustained industrial momentum. Over the past seven to eight years, the Indian footwear sector has grown consistently at an impressive annual rate of 20 per cent to 22 per cent, a trend projected to continue over the next decade. To align with this aggressive trajectory, the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry have set a clear target for domestic manufacturers to double pair production capacity within the next three to four years. As Lt. Col. Kondilya noted, the 2026 exhibition will directly reflect these expanding internal capabilities and industry goals, featuring a robust lineup of knowledge-sharing sessions, seminars, and networking opportunities.

Lauding the role of the India Trade Promotion Organisation in external trade promotion, especially within labour-intensive sectors, Motilal Sethi, Regional Chairman of the Council for Leather Exports, Northern Region, stated that the state trade body has been playing the role of a growth catalyst for India’s leather and footwear sector through its world-class exhibition ecosystem. He observed that it has given the Indian leather and footwear industry a premium global stage, allowing domestic manufacturers to match the presentation standards of premier European trade shows. Crucially, this institutional backing has bridged the critical gap between traditional Indian craftsmanship and international market demands. Through targeted buyer-seller meets and specialized trade delegations, the collaboration has systematically exposed India’s micro, small and medium enterprise clusters—from Kanpur and Agra to Ambur—to global design trends, stringent sustainability benchmarks, and international quality compliance frameworks.

--

IIFT 2026, New Delhi

Dates & Timings: Aug 6–8 (10 AM–6 PM)

Venue: Bharat Mandapam (Hall No 5 & 6)

Organizers: ITPO & CIFI.

Expected Visitors: 15,000 domestic & foreign visitors.

Layout:

Hall 5 (GF): Finished footwear & materials.

Hall 6: Machinery, technology, & raw materials.