International leather fair starts in Kolkata

The India Trade Promotion Organization (ITPO) along with Indian Leather Products Association (ILPA) and Council for Leather Exports (CLE) organized '17th International Leather Goods Fair' here on Saturday.

The annual extravaganza aimed towards showcasing leather products and to highlight the latest fashion trends in leather in the domestic market and promote the industry.

The fair was inaugurated by Paresh Rajda, Chairman-East, Council for leather exports (CLE).

On being asked about this fair and its possibilities, Paresh Rajda said, "The leather industry is flourishing and making many new employment opportunities for the people of the state. The rural people are also getting jobs with handsome salaries in this sector."

"We are making factories in village areas and has shifted many factories also so that village people can also work there," he said.

The fair will showcase the latest fashion trends of leather products in the domestic market besides promoting the industry.

One of the leading trade fair in the Eastern region, this event witnessed the presence of international buyers, from round the globe, who have the option of choosing from an incredibly vast range of leather garments, goods and accessories like handbags, purses, wallets, sports goods, leather upholstery, industrial leather goods, finished leather and lining leather, components & accessories of leather goods and leather goods machinery.

There were 45 stalls in total at the fair this year.

Rita Menon, Chairman & Managing Director, India Trade promotion Organisation (ITPO) said: "India is among the top three nations in terms of production and export of finished leather goods, Kolkata being the largest centre in terms of production of leather products."

Speaking on the occasion, Shankar Dawn, President, Indian Leather Products Association (ILPA) said: "ILPA is proud to be associated with a trade show of such stature and through this medium we can reach out to the global audience conveying the strong hold of leather industry in the Eastern region.

"With the advent of the Leather Goods Park, the association is confident to accept that we have forayed into the new age and it's now time for All Round Growth & Image Building of the state."

The trade show is a three day affair that starts from February 18 and will be on till February 21.

(Reporting by Papri Chanda and Priyam Mallick)