Governor of Delhi Tejendra Khanna officially inaugurated the 15^th Delhi International Leather Fair at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi, which runs from May 18-20. Other attendees included chairman and managing director, India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) N Khanna; chairman of the Council for Leather Exports (CLE) Mukhtarul Amin and executive director of CLE, Dr K Elangovan.

The Annual Exports Awards were also presented to M/s. Enkay (India) Rubber Co. Pvt. Ltd. and M/s. Ess Aar Universal Pvt.Ltd.—in the soles category—and M/s. Sperry Plast Ltd. and M/s. Sanghavi Shoe Accessories in the components sector.

More than 130 international companies are exhibiting at the fair and goods on show include leather shoes, footwear components, leather garments, handbags, leather goods, saddlery and harness goods, machinery and equipment and chemicals. Mr Elangovan said that 48 buyers from thirteen countries had already arrived and that business was expected to be lucrative during the fair.

Speaking to www.leatherbiz.com Mr Khanna said that Delhi does not suffer from pollution from the leather industry as there are no tanneries in the area. He said that he hoped the leather industry would continue to grow and keep pace with India’s rising GDP and urged the implementation of schemes that would enable poorer members of the community to become involved in the industry.

Mr Amin added that the country’s leather and leather goods exports exceeded the $3 billion mark in 2006/07 and should continue to prosper in coming years.