On November 28’ 2004, Federation Footwear delegation led by Mr. Browne De Kilmaine, Vice President, French Footwear federation visited along with some prominent footwear manufacturers viz. Pedi Girl, Mephisto, Adige, Chaussures Maurice SAS made a keen visit to IFCOMA Display Center. They were given a warm welcome by the Management Committee of IFCOMA led by the President Shri Mani Almal. Shri Mukhtar-ul-Amin, Vice Chairman, CLE, Shri Sanjay Leekha, regional Chairman, CLE, Mr. R.K.Pandey, Regional Director CLE, Mr. Subhash Kapoor, Covenor DILF Committee and certain prominent members of IFCOMA also graced this significant meeting.

To understand each other’s need and exchange information on the footwear & components sector an agreement for co-operation was signed between the two associations in the exceedingly packed full house and highly charged atmosphere in Conference Room of IFCOMA.

The listed terms include exchange information for the benefit of respective members of the two associations, sharing of periodical newsletters to update themselves about the development in the respective countries. The exchange of information would lead to development and improvement in quality and competitive standards with respect to various components and related products and thus inspire growth of business between the two countries in terms of volumes.

The delegation highly appreciated the efforts and arrangements made by IFCOMA. Mr. Francois Browne de Kilmaine termed the display of Footwear Components as very impressive exhibition and the interaction to be first step of co-operation between India and France.

The visitors took a detailed note of the Components displayed at IFCOMA display Centre and opined that component Manufacturers in INDIA are improving steadily and should constantly focus on betterment of their product quality.

Members of this delegation who are producers of high quality brands are doing reasonably good business with India are very keen to further augment the sourcing of quality shoes with number of the Shoe manufacturers in India. This will result in providing impetus to footwear component business growth in future as well.

The Impressive show thus ended with vote of thanks.

The two-day exhibition cum Buyers-sellers meet on Footwear Components organized by Indian Footwear Components Manufacturers Association (IFCOMA) under the umbrella of Council for Leather Exports (CLE) at Hotel Purbani, Bangladesh, Dhaka the exhibition began on 5th December 2004 for two days. A total of 18 Stalls were set up by Members of Indian Footwear Components manufacturers Association - IFCOMA.

Shri R. R. Dash, Economic & Commercial minister at the Indian High Commission in Bangladesh, inaugurated exhibition.

The inaugural function was addressed by Shri R. K. Pandey, Regional Director of CLE, Shri Vipan Seth Vice President of IFCOMA, Shri M. A. Maleque, National consultant of UN International Trade Centre, Shri Shakil Ahmed Khan, Secretary General of Australia-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and industry and Shri Ziaur Rahman, Managing Director of Bay Leather.

Addressing the function Shri R. R. Dash said that the exhibition would benefit both the Indian manufacturers of Footwear Components and Bangladesh Manufacturers of Footwear components and Bangladesh Manufacturers of Footwear Components and Bangladeshi Manufacturers of Shoes. “The exhibition is a symbol of strong and growing cooperation between the two friendly countries,” he stated.