Sh. Sanjay Gupta (Vice President IFCOMA) presenting a plaque to the Chief Guest Sh. I.S. Paul (MD Drish Shoes)	Sh. Satpal Gosain MLA Ludhiana, speaking at the inaugral function. Sitting on the dias are Sh. Mani ALmal, Sh. I.S. Paul (Chief Guest) and Sh. Karan Anand (Secy. IFCOMA)

Inauguration

The fair was inaugurated on 21^st August at 10.00am by Sh. I.S. Paul, MD Drish Shoes Ltd., the Guests of Honour were Sh. Satpal Gosain MLA and Sh. O.P. Seth President, Versatile Group of Industries. About 200 trade visitors and all the participants attended the inauguration.

In his inaugural address, Shri I.S. Paul praised the efforts made by IFCOMA in organising the event. He emphasised upon the Footwear Manufacturers ‘to make it their moral responsibility to produce Quality Shoes keeping in mind the safety interest of their valued customers’, this he said could only be possible by using better quality Components. Shri Paul also requested IFCOMA to continue with such events every year.

Shri Satpal Gosain while appreciating the show also assured all help to support the growth of this sector from his constituency.

Business Visitors

An intensive campaign was undertaken to create awareness among the trade and industry to visit the fair, by way of personal invitations, Banners in Ludhiana & Jullundhar and advertisements in Newspapers. 3000invitation cards were printed and distributed in the clusters manufacturing footwear, wholesalers and traders. The choice of requesting Sh. Satpal Gosain to grace the occasion was motivated by the fact that he is the sitting MLA of the constituency wherein most of the cottage and micro enterprises manufacturing Footwear are located.

The two-day meet was a great success. There was overwhelming response from the Trade & Industry. More than 2000 visitors visited the fair. The local media gave wide coverage of the event. The Siti cable TV channel made the event as part of their news telecast and it was repeated at least 3-4 times during the two days. Punjab Kesari, the largest circulated local daily, also covered the event.

Visitor Profile

Out of the more than 2000 visitors who visited the fair only about 100 were from the organised sector of Jullundhar and other areas of Punjab, the rest were from the cottage and M/E’s located in Ludhiana and Jalandhar region. The flow of visitors was constant during both the days. The enthusiasm generated by this first Exhibition of its kind should have been seen to be believed. For the small manufacturers this exhibition was like an eye opener as they were not at all aware of the kind of components which are available. These people are totally dependent on the local suppliers of materials as they are in the cottage sector and as such cannot afford to travel out of their city.

The organised sector also appreciated this effort of organising the show in their region as more number of their Technical staff and other personnel could see a complete range of Components, unlike the International fairs being held at Delhi and Chennai where everybody cannot visit.

Business Transacted

Confirmed orders worth over 30 lacs were negotiated during the exhibition and it is expected that another 20 – 30 lacs worth of business will be finalised in the next two months. Many Component manufacturers also appointed Dealers in this un-represented area for their products.

A press meet and a trade dinner were also hosted on the occasion. Inspite of short notice all the correspondents of the major local dailies attended the meet. The dinner was attended by over a 100 people from all sectors of the footwear industry.

Industry Profile

Apart from the few industries in the organised Sector in Jalandhar all the units are in the tiny and cottage sector. During meetings held with a couple of local Associations after the show and a few factories visited it was observed that the manufacturing is totally handmade with the use of traditional tools only. The lasts being used are still made of wood, procured locally. The patterns used are nonstandard, hand graded made of paperboard. Minimal machinery is used, excepting normal stitching (non –mechanised) and pneumatic pasting machines (Agra Made).

There are more than 1000 units manufacturing footwear in the hand made sector. Most of the artisans have migrated from Rajasthan and Agra region and have been living here for at least two generations. They have the skill but lack latest technical developments, just like the artisans of Delhi. During discussions and visits the people highlighted their problems regarding non-availability of any kind of technical guidance, plastic lasts, components etc.

OBSERVATIONS

The artisans are aware of the centre being run in Karol Bagh, Delhi. They have desired that a similar set up may also be made available to them in Ludhiana as it is not possible for them to leave their units and come to Delhi for any kind of guidance. This is due to the fact that if they leave even for one day the production comes to a halt, as they themselves along with their family members are the workers. They have not only to bear the cost of travelling but also loose their days earning. They produce and sell in the local market to wholesalers on a daily basis. The total daily production is estimated to be around 50,000 to 75,000 pairs per day, about 80% is of ladies footwear. The products are sold throughout Punjab and the neighbouring states.

Proposal

The fair has given the local manufacturers an insight to the availability of quality components to upgrade their quality and increase production but the basic necessities required for producing quality shoes like PVC lasts, Pattern grading, modern styling, skiving and Leather measuring machines, etc. are not available to them. It is therefore essential that these facilities are provided to them (like artisans of Delhi & Agra) because only then they will be able to use quality & standard Components. All the people who came to the fair desired that these kind of Road shows be held regularly every year.

It is visualised that once the facilities on the model of the Delhi centre are provided to them and combined with their Artisanal skills they will in no way be behind any other manufacturers of the country and will also be able to produce Export worthy Footwear.

Considering the overwhelming response and a strong request from the industry, we feel that the event has to be made an annual feature.

The next Road-show is scheduled to be held in Kanpur on 26^th & 27^th September 1999.

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