“Good work by stakeholders and 40000+ workforce!”

Sri Lanka’s booming footwear and leather sector has demonstrated the highest exports surge in recent history while the industry players lauded praise on the government for the support given to them. “Our footwear and leather exports have shown a strong growth trend. In 2012, exports from this sector stood at $ 30 Mn but now it has registered a remarkable 63% increase in 2013 to $ 51 Mn” said a satisfied Rishad Bathiudeen (Minister of Industry and Commerce of Sri Lanka) on 07 February in Colombo.

Minister Bathiudeen was addressing the inauguration event of the sixth edition of Footwear and Leather Fair on 07 February at BMICH, Colombo. Joining the event as the Chief Guest was Basil Rajapaksa (Minister of Economic Development), and other Deputy Ministers-Lakshman Wasantha Perera (Deputy Minister of Industry & Commerce) and Weerakumara Dissanayake (Deputy Minister of Traditional Industries & Small Enterprise Development), as well as members of diplomatic community from 13 countries, international participants from Egypt, France, Korea, Kenya, Germany, Seychelles and -including a delegation from Iran. 19 Indian exhibitors from Indian Footwear Component Manufacturers Association (IFCOMA) and one Chinese exhibitor were taking part in the event which was first held in 2007.  The sixth edition, organized by Export Development Board, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, Industrial Development Board and the Sri Lanka Footwear and Leather Products Manufacturers’ Association (SLFLPMA), is the international level platform for Lankan footwear and leather product exporters, manufacturers and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to showcase their talents and capabilities locally and globally. When the three day exposition at BMICH concludes on 9 Sunday, it would pack such events as, a Designer Award Ceremony, an exclusive Fashion Show and even a stall competition.

“This event is a strong platform for networking and market diversification for Lankan stakeholders” said Minister Bathiudeen, and added: “What is more interesting is that this event is also taking place at a time when our footwear and leather exports are showing a strong growth trend. In 2012, exports from this sector stood at $ 30 Mn but now it has registered a remarkable 63% increase by 2013 to $ 51 Mn. Having successfully completed five editions, the EDB is organizing the 6th event with the valuable support of Industrial Development Board, Sri Lanka Footwear and Leather Products Manufacturers’ Association and other stakeholders-specially the more than 40,000 strong workforce in this sector. As you are aware, the leather and footwear industry of Sri Lanka has also been identified by my Ministry as a thrust industry for development. Accordingly, the ministry has taken many initiatives to safeguard the local manufacturers and also to develop and promote exports. I also wish to commend producers and exporters in this sector as well as award winning Sri Lankan footwear exporters in Sri Lanka such as Michelangelo Group who are successfully supplying to global footwear brands such as JC Penny, John Lewis, and Bata Switzerland and even the competitive Italian market. Our domestic supply source is bovines, and the numbers of Sri Lanka’s bovines, have registered an encouraging 19% increase from 2002 to 2012. Despite this, the increasing demand for our products creates the need for more raw material and inputs. India has become a steady supplier of raw material to this sector. The strong presence of Indian exhibitors today is a sign of cooperation between both countries to meet global market demands. It also shows that working together, we can achieve more.”

Sitendra Senaratne, Chairman of the sixth Footwear and Leather Fair organizing committee, and a longstanding name in this industry, addressing the event praised the government and specifically the Minister of industry and Commerce for the assistance extended to the sector. “We thank the Minister of Industry and Commerce for the continuous assistance given to us. Also we praise HE the President Mahinda Rajapaksa for the relief measures given to footwear and leather sector since 2009 Budget, and his announcement for duty free imports of machinery for footwear, leather and accessories industries, so that not only large scale, but even medium and small manufacturers imported machinery and modernized the factories. As a result, today, we are happy to say that we are self-sufficient in shoes. And also, duty protections were given by the government to safeguard the local industry from imports.”