INDUSTRY OVERVIEW-Leather Industry The Leather Industry in India has made rapid progress in the last decade.

It plans to increase India's share in global leather products from the current level of US$ 2 Billion to US$ 4 Billion by the year 2010, of which footwear alone will be US$ 2.5 Billion. The indigenous Leather Chemicals manufacturing Industry has all along played a crucial and partnering role in the development of the Indian Leather Industry. Since the future emphasis on the one hand will be to further increase the exports of value added leather products and on the other ensure that environmental concerns are fully met, more and more sophisticated process chemicals will be required by the Indian Leather Industry. The Indian Leather Chemical Manufacturers are confident of meeting these requirements, both in quality and quantity. The Indian leather Industry occupies a place of prominence in the Indian economy in view of its substantial export earnings, employment generation and growth. There has been increasing emphasis on its planned development, aimed at optimum utilization of available raw material for maximizing the returns particularly from exports. The export of leather and leather products increased manifold over the past decades. The export increased from Rs. 290 mn in 1956-57 and from Rs. 30760 mn in 1991-92 toRs. 140007.33 mn in 2007-08. Today the industry ranks 8th in the export trade in terms of foreign exchange earnings of the country. The Indian Leather Industry has been touching new heights of anticipated success in the past and is expecting a great high in the nearing future as well. No wonder that this industry has

US $ 4 billion share in the market worldwide. The second largest manufacturer of leather garments and footwear, it has remarkably maintained its performance consistently. This has hastened the growth of business to such an extent that acclaimed international and national clients are looking forward to trade with India. To provide this common platform for one and all anticipating to trade with India, India Trade Promotion Organization (ITPO) organize India International Leather Fair (IILF) from January 31 -February 3 every year. Endowed with rich experience and expertise, the Indian Leather Industry is one of the rna j or producers of finished leather in the world. This huge event will showcase the widest possible range of Leather products such as finished leather, shoes, garments, fashion accessories, travelware, portfolios, belts, gloves, saddlery and harness to ancillary and auxiliary, chemicals, machinery and equipment, etc. The composition of export of leather and leather products from India has undergone a structural change during the last three decades, from merely an exporter of raw material in the sixties to that of value added products in the nineties. The value added finished products presently constitute around 80% of the total export from the Industry, which was mere 7o/o in 1956-57. India accounts for a share of 2.62% in the global leather trade during 2006. With the exclusion of non-leather footwear, this is slightly higher at 3.41 %. The Indian leather industry is organised as follows: Tanning & finishing Footwear & Footwear Components

Leather Garments Leather Goods (bags, wallets, belts, gloves, accessories) Saddlery and harness articles Major production centres: The major production centers for leather and leather products are located in: Tamil Nadu- Chennai, Ambur, Ranipet, Vaniyambadi, Trichy, Dindigul West Bengal - Kolkata Uttar Pradesh - Kanpur, Agra & Noida Maharashtra- Mumbai Punjab - Jallandhar Karnataka- Bangalore Andhra Pradesh- Hyderabad Haryana - Ambala, Gurgaon, Panchkula and Karnal Delhi.

LCMA Introduction The Leather Chemicals Manufacturers Association was formed in 1985 by nine leading manufacturers of leather chemicals in India. The member units manufacture the entire gamut of chemicals required for pre-tanning, tanning, fatliquoring, colouration and finishing of raw hides and skins to produce finished leathers of world-class standard. Main Objectives To promote the use of leather chemicals in India and to assist in the development of the Leather Chemicals Industry of the country. To maintain and enhance the reputation of the Leather Chemicals Industry and to effectively canalize its contribution to the global business of the Leather Industry of the country. To promote export trade in leather chemicals. To prevent malpractices, if any, in the Leather Chemicals Industry and trade and to establish a code of conduct for observance by members. To organise procurement and distribution of raw materials, plant, equipment and other products of interest to members. To represent the Leather Chemicals Industry's viewpoint to the Government authorities at the centre and state levels and to submit

Memoranda of representation to different Government commissions and committees on matters affecting the well being of the Industry.

To help manufacturers of leather chemicals to maintain high standards of quality and to encourage open exchange of information and statistics for submission to the Government.

To create and establish just and equitable traditions and principles for the conduct of business connected with the Leather Chemicals Industry.

To promote measures to ensure that leather chemicals of the highest quality are readily available for the manufacture of leather and leather products.

To collect, compile and disseminate statistical and other information for the benefit of persons engaged in the manufacture/trade of leather chemicals and to enhance knowledge through lectures, conferences, publications, etc.

To support any measures for the advancement of the Leather Chemicals Industry in India. To collaborate with other societies, associations or organisations with similar aims and objects as the Association.

To maintain a library of books, periodicals, journals, films, slides, pictures, statistics and data on matters relating to the aims and objects of the Association.

To organise publicity in order to spread knowledge and information relating to the aims of the Association.

To do all such acts as are conducive to the attainment of the aims and objects of the Association.