Leather trade inks deal with China body
Kolkata: The 13-member team from the Council for Leather Exports (CLE) which visited China between November 8 and 11, 2005, has worked out a roadmap to develop the leather trade between producers in the two countries.
The Indian team sought Chinese investments in the leather industry through foreign direct investment (FDI), joint ventures and technical co-operation agreements, CLE said in a statement.
Several areas of mutual interest had been identified for development of trade and exchange in the leather sector between India and China.
Acknowledging the fact that India had become a production base for shoe and leather products in south Asia, the leather industry in Guangdong province evinced keen interest to work closely with Indian leather sector players for mutually beneficial business deals.
The Chinese and Indian sides agreed to work to strengthen communication to promote the common development of their leather industry.
Guangdong Leather Industry Association and the association of Guangdong shoe manufacturers assured the Indian team that it would work to get a delegation to India for the purpose of investment and co-operation in India.
During the delegation's visit, the Indian side would organise discussions and seminars to identify opportunities in India-China trade co-operation in the leather sector.
The Chinese delegation is likely to come to India in March-April 2006 and would visit important leather and footwear manufacturing clusters.
The 13-member delegation from the Indian leather industry led by M Rafeeque Ahmed, chairman of the Council for Leather Exports visited Dongguan and Guangzhou regions in China between November 8 and 11, 2005.
The delegation presented a detailed presentation about the investment climate prevailing in India for overseas investments and the government's policies to support the sector.
The Indian team also visited several Chinese factories.
On November 11, the Indian team met Wang Jian Xin, president, and other office-bearers of the Guangdong Leather Industry Association (GLIA), for a wrap-up meeting at Guangzhou.
