Sachin Malik: Agra, a key industrial city of Uttar Pradesh, is now set to make its mark globally not just as the “City of the Taj,” but also as the “Shoe Capital of the World.” This landmark initiative was formally launched at the India-New Zealand Business Meet held on Sunday at Hotel Amar Vilas.
The event, attended by Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and New Zealand Minister for Trade and Investment Todd McClay, made it clear that Agra footwear industry is Poised to become a major game-Changer for Uttar Pradesh economy. The initiative is expected to bring unprecedented benefits to the state trade, infrastructure and Employment.
Agra already contributes over 75% to India leather footwear exports. During the meet, it was Projected that exports from Uttar Pradesh could increase by 3 to 5 times through Free Trade Agreements (FTA), CEPA, and bilateral Partnerships.
Collaboration with countries like New Zealand in raw material supply and design innovation will Strengthen UP Presence in markets such as Europe, the United States, and the Middle East, significantly boosting State Revenue.
Agra industrial Cluster currently includes more than 5,000 MSME units, Providing direct and indirect employment to 4,00,000-5,00,000 People. With this initiative to develop a global hub and attract foreign investment, these MSME are expected to expand significantly. This will create large-scale employment opportunities for youth and artisans in Uttar Pradesh and help curb Migration.
To make Agra globally competitive with countries like China and Vietnam, Uttar Pradesh infrastructure will Play a crucial role. The upcoming Jewar International Airport and the proposed footwear Park under the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) will upgrade Agra logistics to world-Class Standards. This will make transportation of goods faster and Cheaper, attracting more international buyers to the State.
Under this initiative, Uttar Pradesh will receive a new global branding Push. Agra will be Positioned as a “city of footwear excellence,” and Products will gain international recognition through GI tagging. Discussions with the New Zealand delegation indicate that the state will not only manufacture goods but also engage in joint Production and world-Class design innovation, leading to significant foreign direct investment (FDI) and technological advancement.
At the event, Union Minister Piyush Goyal stated that the government is committed to Providing comprehensive Policy support to the industry, including measures such as zero duty on components and interest subsidies until 2030.
Industry leaders, including Ramesh Kumar Juneja (Chairman, Council for Leather Exports) and Puran Dawar (Chairman, Footwear Development Council), described the initiative as transformative. Undoubtedly, this step will Prove to be a milestone in achieving Uttar Pradesh goal of becoming a one-trillion-dollar Economy.
The event was also attended by several officials and industry representatives, including Joint Secretary Petal Dhillon, Director Taruna Doolia, Under Secretary Bimlesh Kumar Jha, Senior Press Secretary Julie Johnston (New Zealand), CLE Regional President (Central) Yadvendra Singh, Regional Director Atul Kumar Mishra, Deputy Director R.K. Shukla and various Prominent entrepreneurs and association leaders.
