Date:09/10/2004 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2004/10/09/stories/2004100902331700.htm

Back Kolkata Leather fair fetches Rs 13.8-cr biz

Our Bureau

A total of 31 buyers visited the fair from 19 countries, including Australia, Belgium, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Hungary, Israel, Turkey, Sweden, Germany and Spain.

Kolkata , Oct. 8

MAJOR participants at the 10th edition of the Kolkata International Leather Goods Fair (ILGF), 2004, which concluded recently, indicated here that business worth Rs 13.8 crore has been transacted at the fair.

This figure has also been confirmed by senior officials at the regional office of India Trade Promotion Organisation and Council for Leather Exports (CLE), who, however, clarified that this included confirmed export orders as well as orders under negotiation.

It has also been now decided that the next edition of the ILGF would be shifted to the original date of March and not October, as done specially this year for reasons beyond the control of the organisers.

Talking to Business Line here recently, Mr S.S. Kumar, Chairman of CLE, one of the key organisers of the fair along with ITPO and ILPA, said this has been done, as March was the ideal time for order placement of autumn - and winter design items and October for Spring-Summer.

He said additionally, in October, the major buyers would have already firmed up their purchase orders through participation in top drawer international leather goods fairs in places like Milan, Naples, etc.

Mr Kumar said the decision to shift the ILGF back to March was taken at a recent review meeting, in which besides himself, Mr S. Raghavan, GM, ITPO, Mr M.V. Kulkarni, President, ILPA, Mr B.K. Bothra, Regional Chairman of CLE and other senior representatives of leather sector were present.

He said the leather goods units in Kolkata are strong in winter design products, and therefore prefer March for conducting of the fair.

Mr Kumar said a total of 31 buyers visited the fair from 19 countries, including Australia, Belgium, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Hungary, Israel, Turkey, Sweden, Germany and Spain.

According to ITPO officials, more than 500 business visitors from different parts of India, including representatives of buying houses, also visited the fair.

A total of 50 Indian companies participated in the fair and displayed the entire range of small leather products, finished leather, leather goods accessories & components and leather goods manufacturing machinery.