Footwear & Leather Fair to commence from Feb. 3 to 5 at BMICH

The Sri Lanka’s Premier Footwear & Leather Fair organized by the Sri Lanka Footwear & Leather Products Manufacturers Association in collaboration with the Ministry of Industries, Industrial Development Board and the Export Development Board, will be held from February 3 to 5 at the BMICH from 10.00 a.m to 9. 00 p.m

The fair which was becoming an International fair with the participation of suppliers of raw material accessories and Machinery from China, India and Pakistan was unable to be held during the last two years due to the pandemic situation in the country. This will be the 13th edition of the fair which commenced in 2007. The fair will be inaugurated by the Minister of Industries Dr. Ramesh Pathirana, on February 3.

The country’s approximate annual footwear requirement is in the range of 60 million pairs while the County’s current installed production capacity is also around 60 million pairs excluding rubber thongs. Thongs alone have reached to more than 25 million pairs.

The value of this industry is around Rs. 60 to 70 billion. The current local manufacturer’s share is in the range75 per cent (45 million) and the balance 25 per cent (15 million) is fulfilled by legal and illegal imports as well as assembled footwear.

With the continuation of the safety net of CESS the industry has become a major Foreign Exchange saving to the industry in the country. Hundred per cent of the country’s school shoes requirement of 4.5 million pairs is being produced by the local Manufacturers. Sri Lanka’s barefoot population has been eradicated by the introduction of Flip Flops.

Today Flip Flops have been successfully repositioned to cater to the teenage markets fashion tastes and pitched in the up market and now have become a major item of footwear exported to Australia and the European Countries.

The Leather Industry, apart from tanning, leather bags, small leather goods such as gloves, wallets, purses, belts, key tags are also produced by the Leather Industry.

Sri Lanka’s first ever Footwear & Leather fair in the year was launched in 2007. The prime objective of the fair was to promote Sri Lankan products locally as well as internationally.

All the leading Producers & Exporters of Footwear & Leather products of the island will be participating at the fair this year.