India’s department for promotion of industry and internal trade (DPIIT) recently approved in principle setting up a mega leather footwear and accessories cluster park in Ratwad in Maharashtra’s Raigad district.
It will be set up as part of the Indian Footwear and Leather Development Programme (IFLDP), which has a financial outlay of ₹1700 crore until March 31, 2026.
The allocation of grants for such a cluster signifies Maharashtra’s growing strength in the sector and would further revolutionise the state’s leather sector, enabling the state to take a leading position in footwear and apparel exports, a state industries department release said.
It will unleash a tremendous employment opportunity, strengthen the leather sector ecosystem and foster the state’s overall economic prosperity, it said.
Covering 151 acres, the park is expected to serve as a hub for the leather industry collaboration, innovation and growth by integrating manufacturers, suppliers, designers and artisans.
Maharashtra currently ranks 8th among largest producer and exporter of leather goods in the country.
With the Jawaharlal Nehru Port accounting for 21 per cent of the country’s leather exports, this strategic location will reduce logistics costs and time, leading to enhanced exports, the release added.