COUNCIL FOR LEATHER EXPORTS

( Sponsored by Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Govt. of India )

PRESS RELEASE

COMMON FACILITY CENTRE (CFC) AT JALANDHAR TO BE INAUGURATED ON SEPTEMBER 11, 2014

Indian leather industry is not only a major foreign exchange earner for the country but one of the largest employment providers, particularly for weaker sections of the society. Exports from the leather sector have grown from USD 3.4 billion in 2009-10 to an all time high value of USD 6 billion in 2013-14. Exports are projected to grow at more than 20% in the next five years. The domestic market for leather, leather products and footwear, which is presently about USD 5 billion, is also expected to double in the next 5 years.

In line with the National Trend, the leather industry is Punjab has also achieved significant growth in the recent years. As per membership records of Council for Leather Exports, the export of leather and leather products from Punjab increased from Rs.216.97 crore in 2008-09 crore to Rs.342.30 crore in 2012-13. The major export items are finished leather, leather footwear, leather goods and leather garments. Jalandhar is a major production centre for finished leather, leather goods, footwear and leather garments, contributing a share of more than 80% of the exports from Punjab.

The leather & leather product units in Jalandhar, who are predominantly in the Micro and Small Sector, need the support in core areas namely marketing (both direct and virtual), market information, policy and procedures of the Government etc., so that can make use of the various programmes and schemes of the Government to the maximum extent and achieve sustainable growth in the coming years. Considering this, the Council for Leather Exports (an autonomous organisation under Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Govt. of India) has established a Common Facility Centre (CFC) at the campus of Regional Center for Extension Development (RCED) of Central Leather Research Institute (CLRI) located at Leather Complex, Jalandhar. This CFC has been constructed with financial support of Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India under the Assistance to States for Infrastructure Development of Exports (ASIDE) scheme. Punjab Small Industries & Export Corporation Limited, Chandigarh has provided 9100 square Feet land for this purpose.

The CFC has three floors, with total built up area of 7500 square feet i.e., 2500 square feet in each floor. The facilities at the CFC will be Product Display Hall (1550 sq ft), Conference Hall (1150 sq ft), Resource Centre (500 sq ft) and the Extension office of Council for Leather Exports (1000 sq ft)

The Foundation Stone for the CFC Jalandhar project was laid by Shri Rajendra Kumar Jalan, Chairman, Council for Leather Exports on May 17, 2013 at the project site in the presence of Shri R. Ramesh Kumar IAS, Executive Director, Council for Leather Exports.

The Common Facility Centre , Jalandhar project has now been completed. Concerted efforts of Government of India, Government of Punjab, Council for Leather Exports and Leather Industry members have helped in establishment of an Integrated Complex housing Product Display Centre, Conference Centre, Resource Centre and the Extension office of Council for Leather Exports in the form of CFC Jalandhar. The CFC Jalandhar will be inaugurated by Shri Madan Mohan Mittal, Hon’ble Minister for Industry and Commerce, Technical Education & Industrial Training , Government of Punjab on 11th September 2014 in presence of industry representatives.

The Common Facility Centre (CFC) at Jalandhar stands as a testimony to VISION TRANSLATED INTO REALITY through sustained action of the Government and the Industry.