More than 60 Indian footwear and leather goods manufacturers are set to participate in the largest exhibition of such products in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region from 11-13 December.
The Dubai International Footwear and Leather Exhibition (DIFLEX 2023) comes against the backdrop of rising demand for footwear and leather goods in the Middle East and North Africa, estimated to grow at a compound annual growth rate of over 7 per cent, reaching upwards of USD 20 billion by next year.
The Indian pavilion’s participation is organised by the Council for Leather Exports (CLE), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, to boost exports that totaled USD 5.26 billion in 2022-23, according to CLE data.
Footwear exports, including leather and non-leather, constitute over 50 per cent of the trade. India is the second-largest exporter of leather garments, the third-largest exporter of saddlery and harnesses and the fourth-largest exporter of leather goods globally.
Verifair, the organisers of DIFLEX 2023 at Dubai Festival Arena, Dubai Festival City, reported the participation of over 250 footwear, leather, and leather accessories producers worldwide, showcasing over 10,000 product lines.
Despite inflationary pressures and the macro-economic environment, consumer spending on footwear and leather products has maintained a growth momentum, with the key demand markets of the UAE and Saudi Arabia contributing a major share, Jeen Joshua, Managing Director of Verifair said.
Joshua added that DIFLEX 2023 is positioned as a one-stop-shop for exploring new business partnerships and sourcing products from various global markets under one roof.
Participating manufacturers and producers at DIFLEX represent leading footwear and leather-producing hubs, including Turkey, Egypt, India, Sri Lanka, China, and the UAE. Turkey, India and Egypt will have official country pavilions at the exhibition.
The MENA region, which typically includes countries such as Algeria, Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malta, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, Palestine, and Yemen, is a focal point for this significant industry event.
