Indian Leather & Leather products Expo Inaugurated by HE MK Lokesh Ambassador of India to UAE

Dubai, December 10, 2013: An exclusive event to showcase Indian Leather and Leather products organized by the Council of Leather Exports (under the Ministry of Commerce, Govt. of India) and the Indian Embassy in UAE and hosted by the India Trade and Exhibition Centre m.e. was inaugurated today by HE MK Lokesh Ambassador of India to UAE in the presence of Mr. Ramesh Kumar IAS, Executive Director, Council for Leather Exports and Mr. Sudesh Aggarwal, Chairman IBPC Sharjah and Ms. Sripriyaa, Director General ITEC m.e.
Speaking at the inauguration of the event which showcases India’s finest leather & leather products ranging from Finished Leather, Leather & Non-Leather Footwear, Footwear Components, Leather Garments, Leather Goods & Accessories, Leather Gloves , Saddlery and Harness, Ms. Sripriyaa Kumaria Director General ITEC m.e. mentioned that the top 34 leather companies from all over India has participated in this BSM which is an excellent opportunity for UAE businessmen to meet the best of the Indian Leather Industry. About 190 brands / companies from UAE have registered to attend the event which includes major buyers and industry leaders such as EMKE Group, Apparel Group, Landmark namely Shoe Mart, Paris Gallery, Safeer Group, Choithram, Al Manama Group, Al Maya Group etc.
HE Ambassador of India to UAE in his address at the inauguration welcomed and commended the efforts of CLE to host their first BSM in Dubai and encouraged the participants to venture into the UAE and GCC market thereby gaining access to the MENA region.
Mr. Ramesh Kumar IAS, Executive Director, CLE India mentioned that as apartofAnnualActionPlan2013-14, CLE India is organizing the CLE BSM Dubai 2013. He mentioned that UAE is an upcoming market for India in terms of leather and leather products and with a view to further enhance the share of India’s export of leather and leather products to UAE which is currently around 2.53% out of India’s total export of US$ 4996.91 million, which is one of the main reason the Council is organizing the first standalone Buyer Seller Meet in Dubai.
He also quoted that as per reports of ITC Geneva the import of leather and leather products of UAE in 2012 has been estimated at US$ 1692.23 million. These encouraging figures have motivated CLE to organize the CLE BSM in Dubai and hopes that the CLE BSM in Dubai shall be an annual feature.
Mr. Ramesh Kumar also mentioned that India’s export of leather and leather products has grown manifold over the years and reached a milestone value of US$ 5 billion mark during the year 2012-13 and CLE India shall further propel this figure with such events that shall benefit the CLE member participants as well as the prospective buyers in UAE.
In her address to the press, Ms. Sripriyaa Kumaria added that such industry specific, stand- alone events namely the CLE buyer seller meet will foster trade beyond traditional and customary goods between India and UAE. The event shall provide for a Structured Buyer Seller Meet and Unparalleled Business/Networking Opportunities for Buyers and Sellers. The participants shall also tour the various malls and supermarkets during their visit which will give them a further understanding of the local market requirements.
India-UAE trade is today is close to US$75 billion making UAE, India’s  largest trading partner for the year 2012-13 and with Indian exports to UAE consisting of mainly gems and jewelry, vegetables, fruit, spices, engineering goods, tea, meat and its preparations, rice, textiles and apparel and chemicals, lately the export of leather and leather products to UAE has seen substantial growth from US$ 76.23 million in 2007 to US$ 126.43 in 2012 growing at a CompoundedAnnualGrowthRateof10.64%.
Ms. Sripriyaa Kumaria Director General ITEC m.e. during her interaction with the members of the press mentioned that out of UAE’s total leather import trade, the import share of Footwear (leather & non-leather and components) stood at 71.72%, andLeather Goods & Accessories at 23.87%. Finished Leather, leather garments and Saddlery & harness were 1.45%, 2.5% and 0.35% respectively. The above data is a positive indicator that UAE is a potential market for exports of footwear, leather goods & accessories, leather garments and finished leather and this is the right time to tap this lucrative market especially with the announcement of EXPO 2020 and when the Trade activity is at its peak in UAE.
India Trade and Exhibition Centre m.e. being an exclusive Centre in UAE, set up to promote trade and business between India and UAE and operating under the auspices of the Indian Embassy in UAE is organizing the 2 day Event which shall be open from 10 am to 6 pm for trade visitors either by invitation or registration through the website www.clebsmdubai.com. Alternatively interested trade visitors can call the event coordinator on 050 729 3522 for invitations.