PRESS RELEASE
07- May-2010 - India Expo-Centre, Greater Noida

The Footwear Materials, Manufacturing & Technology Exhibition (fMM&T), was inaugurated today on 07th May 2010 at India Expo center greater Noida   by Mr. Madhav Lal, Addl. Secretary & Development Commissioner, Ministry  of Small Scale Industries, Govt. of India.

The exhibition has been organized by APLF Ltd., UBM India Pvt Ltd, in partnership with Indian Footwear Components Manufacturers Association (IFCOMA), and supported by the Council for Leather Exports - India (CLE), Indian Shoe Federation (ISF), Agra Footwear Manufactures & Exporters Chambers (AFMEC). The exhibition which opened with a bang at the India Expo Centre, Greater Noida, will be on for three days, culminating on 9th of May 2010.

The exhibition promises to meet the real need of providing a platform for interaction within India 's booming footwear industry. The objective of the exhibition is to provide a meeting place where those attending can witness a feeling for trends and innovations, compare pricing, do some informal benchmarking, and meet both colleagues and customers to exchange news, views and the latest trade trends.

fMM&T India 2010 has received a powerful response from the industry, with more than 1000  visitors  from over 44 countries. With over 180 exhibitors from India and abroad, the organisers are expecting more than 6000 trade visitors this year. Over  3,250 buyers from 16 countries, including  China, German,  Italy,  Taiwan, the UAE and the  USA are likely to participate at the exhibition for interaction.

Mr. Michael Duck, Managing Director, Asia Pacific Leather Fair, said: “This year we have got  a very positive response from the industry and are very excited with the way the industry has received this event. The enthusiasm displayed by the exhibitors and visitors hints at good business transaction.”

Mr. B. D. Bhaiya, President of IFCOMA said: “fMM&T India is a very important show for the Indian footwear  components Industry and lots of IFCOMA members got benefited from the show last year. This year the response is phenomenal and we expect good business deals to materialize.”

fMM&T India 2010  provides  a  platform for potential customers and suppliers to meet face-to-face across the entire  South Asia  region. It  encourages  suppliers from the  footwear and leather industry, manufacturers of footwear, leather garments, importers, exporters, designers, brand owners, distributors of leather components and product developers to meet under one roof.

The footwear & Leather industry  is known for its consistency in high export earnings and the sector  is among  the top ten foreign exchange earners for the country. With an annual turnover of over US$ 7 billion, the export of leather and leather products increased substantially over the past decades and touched US$ 3.59 billion in 2008-09, recording a cumulative annual growth rate of just under 10%.

Export of footwear (leather footwear, footwear components and non-leather footwear) increased from US$ 1365.21 million in Apr-Feb 2007-08 to US$ 1,393.04 million in Apr-Feb 2008-09, accounting for a 42% share of  India 's total leather export trade. This is followed by Leather Goods with a share of 24.22%, Finished Leather 19.10%, a Leather Garments 12.35%.

fMM&T India 2010 is endorsed by the Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion, Ministry of Commerce & Industry and supported by the Council for Leather Exports - India, Indian Shoe Federation, Agra Footwear Manufactures & Exporters Chambers.

fMM&T India 2010 is organized by the leading leather and materials trade fair organiser APLF Ltd., and managed by UBM India, in partnership with Indian Footwear Components Manufacturers Association.

fMM&T India 2011, will take place from 06-08 May 2011 at India expo centre, Greater Noida New Delhi Companies interested in exhibiting should contact Nigel Luke Brown on +91 (0)11 23165554,