India aiming at 2000 million dollar footwear exports by 2010

Kolkata, May 17 (UNI) India is aiming at 2000 million dollars of footwear exports by 2010, Indian Footwear Components Manufacturers Association president Mani Almal said today.

In 2005-06, the country had set a target of footwear exports at 890 million dollars and has achieved 534 million dollar exports till November 2005, representing 23 per cent growth over the previous year, Mr Almal said.

Footwear components, which were earlier imported to India, were now exported from the country to SAARC countries. The total exports in 2005-06 stood at Rs 8 crore, he said.

'' We are expecting around Rs 150 crore investment in the footwear components industry in the next five years because of the growing demand for the products from India,'' Mr Almal said.

Apart from the domestic market footwear components market, India is slowing capturing potential markets of Pakistan and Bangladesh, he said.

Mr Almal was in the city to launch the buyers-sellers meet intended to spruce up sales of the product in the region.

UNI TJP KK/SRC1821