Date:12/06/2004 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2004/06/12/stories/2004061200510300.htm

Back India to get German expertise in making upholstery leather

Our Bureau

Kolkata , June 11

EXPERTS from Germany are slated to provide training facility to Indian tanners for manufacture of upholstery leather for the automobiles sector.

While preliminary level talks have already been held in this regard by the Council for Leather Exports, (CLE) the industry's apex export promotion body, sources that Indian exporters were keen to get into the German market with this product for which finishing has to be very good.

German importers too have an interest in conducting this training programme given the fact that the German tanning industry is shrinking. Currently, Germany meets its import requirements for this item from Korea, Taiwan and Latin America.

The other reasons for looking at India for sourcing this item was that buffalo hide was ideally suited for processing for use in the auto sector and India has the highest buffalo population in the world. Tanners in Kanpur will be among the first trainee batches, followed by other regions.

India accounts for 10 per cent of the world's raw material for the leather sector and produces about 65 million pieces of hide. Kanpur and Agra in Uttar Pradesh are among the major production centres sources said.Germany accounts for one of the biggest markets for leather exports accounting for as much of as 17 per cent share of total exports in some of the segments like saddlery, and harness and leather goods.