Leather exports and production is expected to rise 10 per cent by 2019, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry CR Chaudhary has said.
“We are expecting that by 2019, leather exports and production would increase by 10 per cent,” he told reporters on Monday.
Chaudhary said the recent decline in leather exports was mainly due to sluggish demand in the European Union and not because of ban on sale of cattle for slaughter and cases of cow vigilantism in the country. He, however, added that such cases of violence had been strongly condemned by the government, including the Prime Minister.
The Minister pointed out that the government was taking steps to improve business environment for the sector as part of the exercise to push growth.
The Minister announced that all Footwear Design and Development Institutes (FDDIs) will become institutes of national importance from Monday with the implementation of the FDDI Act, which was approved by Parliament.
FDDIs will now be able to give degrees, diplomas and certificates and they would also formulate their course and curriculum, he added.
The approval of the FDDI Act by Parliament in July had ended uncertainty among the students who were not sure whether they would get degree from the institute.