WB govt offers land for footwear park in the state

Kolkata: The West Bengal government has extended support to the proposed footwear park in the state by offering 130 acres of land for the project, industry body Council of Leather Exports said today.

"The West Bengal government has agreed to support the project by offering 130 acres of land at Bantala leather complex. The footwear park will attract an investment of Rs 1,000 crore," Council of Leather Exports chairman Ramesh Juneja said here.

"The state government has directed the Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority to construct the new effluent treatment plant and revamp the drainage system to felicitate the footwear complex. It will cost around Rs 100 crore," he said.

He said that the government wants leather sector business in state to increase five times to Rs 50,000 crore in the next five years.

"Bengal once held an important place in footwear industry clocking about 18 per cent share in exports. Now it has become nil," Juneja said.

Beside, footwear park andother leather goods park would also be constructed and 110 acres in Bantala will be allotted by the government, he added.

In 2014-15, Indian leather sector exports was at USD 6.5 billion. "Till December exports was USD 4.4 billion but till March exports could remain at USD 5.5-6 billion," the chairman said.

Meanwhile, the Indian Leather Products Association leather B2B show at Milan mela was inaugurated today which will go on till March 20.