1st Buyer Seller Meet at Ludhiana on 21^st & 22^nd Aug. 1999

Indian Footwear Components Manufacturers Association (IFCOMA ), a national level association of footwear components and accessories manufacturers, in "association with NLDP" has created a new concept by organizing the road shows of footwear components and Accessories for the first time at Ludhiana in Punjab on 21st and 22nd August '99 at the Hotel City Hart.

The Buyers Sellers Meet (BSM) Cum Exhibition was held at the Banquet hall and was inaugurated by Mr.l.S.Paul Chairman & MD of M/s.Drish Shoes Ltd Chandigarh. Mr Satpal Gossain MLA and Mr O.P.Seth Chairman of M/s Versatile group were honorable Guest of this IfCOMA event.

There were 29 companies from all over India participated with the display of Plastic Last, Soles from PVC- TPR- PU Insoles, Leather Unit soles ,Toe puff - Counters, Fabrics ,tacks and nails, Rubber sheet and welts , Clicking - cutting Dies, Adheoivco etc. Machinery supplier also participated to make the manufacturers aware of the latest equipments for small units to help upgrade the quality and volume.

More than 2000 visitors from Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Chandigarh and Amritsar came and visited the exhibition showing serious interest in components and accessories. Ludhiana is well known for the Ladies footwear and there are more than 1000 small manufacturers in the un-organized sector producing about 75,000 prs-1,00,000 pairs per day according to the market requirements. The raw materials are bought by them through retail shops who also dominates on the manufacturers largely due to their financial strength. In spite of good productivity, the labour strength is dependent on Agra and lacks in the progress in absence a training centre for manpower. In addition, there is a serious need of equipment support and testing facilities for faster development.

Jalandhar, an another nearby city, has the production base of Leather gents shoes apart from large production of canvas shoes and hawai chappals. Major Govt. purchases of canvas shoes are made from Jalandhar. It is also a major and important centre for manufacture of Sports goods for domestic and export market.

" Both Ludhiana and Jalandhar has excellent potentials and can bring revolution in footwear manufacturing in future. All we need is to support them at all levels like in other states of Agra /Kanpur where there are centres for training on equipment and various courses by the FDDI and CLRI . Better availability of quality components and at competitive prices with services is sure to help the domestic unorganized sector in the improvement of quality and volume." said Mr Mani Almal - President of IFCOMA in his address.

He further impressed upon to organize such Exhibition at other parts of the country. "Many thanks to NLDP for their extensive support. It is neither possible for every shoe manufacturer, their supervisors & workers to visit the fairs at Chennai and Delhi, which are mainly International fairs, nor every component manufacturer can participate in those fair due to higher cost and the time required by leaving out from their self managed activities. Our objective for such Exhibitions are targeted to upgrade the larger 85% segment of un-organized footwear sector spread all over India by creating linkage and awareness between the Buyers and Sellers, economical for participant and at the same time very convenient for the owner and workers to visit, the days preferred and kept is Saturday and Sunday. This will surely bring revolution in future as product quality and volume will improve for both , the footwear and the component manufacturers." Mr. Almal said with confident.

Mr. Paul in his inaugural address thanked IFCOMA and the National Leather Development Programme ( NLDP ) for creating this concept and organizing of Exhibition at Ludhiana. He stressed upon the footwear manufacturers to insist for the Quality production of footwear. " It is our moral responsibility to produce quality shoes keeping in mind the safety interest of our customers. The buyers will come back to you if quality production is made in spite of higher prices".
Mr I.S.Paul said.

Mr Satpai Gossain in his address appreciated the show and assured of all help in the growth of this sector from his constituency.

" We are thankful to NLDP and the Ministry of Industry ( DIPP ) for their support in our national and international programme and would submit our suggestion to them for up gradation of Ludhiana in their future activity plans .The next BSM cum Exhibition will be held at Kanpur on 26-27th Sept 99" announced Mr. Karan Anand Secretary IFCOMA while giving the vote of thanks.

IFCQMA vice president Mr.Sanjay Gupta, Mr.Rajesh Bhagat ( Member board), Mr Arun Seth (Member) and the President of Ludhiana Footwear Assn. Mr Prem Sharma honoured by presentation of memento and flowers.A press meet and a trade dinner was also hosted on the occasion.