Quality Control Order (QCO) for leather and non-leather footwear will be implemented with effect from 1 July 2023: Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal
Domestic manufacturing of footwear manufacturing machinery and components must be encouraged, said the Minister.
He said importing low-quality and low-cost raw material must be discouraged.
Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal asked footwear manufacturers to make the best possible use of FTAs that India had signed
New Delhi, NFAPost: Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal asked the footwear industry to focus on quality and reduce import dependence to capture a larger share in the international Market.
The Minister made the statement while addressing a gathering of over 100 industrialists engaged in manufacturing of sports shoes in India today in New Delhi.
Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal emphasised that Quality Control Orders (QCO) for leather and non-leather footwear would be implemented with effect from 1 July 2023.
He reiterated that BIS standards need to be followed for better quality and larger production which eventually leads to good quality products for the consumers.
“If industry stakeholders provided substantial facts/data regarding under invoicing and under valuing of imports, the government would take action. High-quality production and for large capacities in the sector is the need of the hour. Here, business practices must be improved for betterment of footwear industry,” said Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal.
The Minister expressed concern about the importing of low-quality and low-cost raw materials and said that the tendency needed to be addressed. The Minister also stressed that dependence on the import of machinery needs to be reduced and domestic machinery manufacturers should be encouraged. He said that the encouragement of the production of components in India needs to be looked into. Footwear Design and Development Institute (FDDI) will also support in this regard, he said.
Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal urged the footwear industry players to strive to assess the quality and standards which consumer expects.
“Improvement in the quality will help gaining importance in global market. India’s leading manufacturers should assess the trends of the Countries with larger global share in export. I want footwear manufacturers to make the best possible use of the FTAs that India had signed. The Indian Footwear & Leather Development Programme needed to be relooked at,” said Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal.
The Minister said BIS and FDDI shall establish testing facilities at the industry clusters. He suggested that the creation of Common Facility Centres for moulding and designing with the support of FDDI may be encouraged.
He noted that Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme was also being considered to create large capacities and promote economies of scale. The Minister also said that officials of DPIIT and industry representatives should study international best practices of quality so that they can be implemented in India.
