39th IILF: India’s leather industry accelerates, with new spaces and important agreements

There was a very positive and optimistic atmosphere at the 39th edition of the India International Leather Fair (IILF), which took place from 1 to 3 February 2026 in the newly constructed exhibition halls of the Chennai Trade Centre, in a larger space that allowed for a more comprehensive showcase of the best of the Indian leather and footwear industry, footwear components, synthetic materials, machinery, chemicals, equipment and technology. Across a total area of over 20,000 square metres, 362 Indian companies and 66 foreign firms were present, with Italy and Germany each having their own Country Pavilion. The IILF is, in fact, the flagship event of the Indian leather industry, a growing market that has traditionally been a major buyer of Italian machinery and technology. In addition to its strong commercial focus, the IILF also offers an excellent platform to demonstrate India’s export and investment potential in the leather and related sectors.  In this regard, we recall the signing on 27 January of a historic Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between India and the EU, the most comprehensive ever signed by both parties. “The agreement,” said Shri R. Selvam, Executive Director of CLE, “represents a major boon for India’s footwear and leather industry, as the EU is our main market, accounting for 43% of our exports. With 0% import duties in the EU for the footwear and leather sector, new opportunities will open up for our exporters, helping us achieve the export target of $14 billion by 2030. The agreement will strengthen cooperation between the two blocs, not only in terms of trade but also in terms of investment.”

It should be noted that during the trade fair, an agreement was also reached with the US to reduce tariffs from 25–50% to 18%.

The Make in India programme, launched in 2014 with the aim of turning the country into a global manufacturing hub, promoting significant growth in exports and rapid economic expansion, is also continuing. India offers significant tax incentives to attract foreign investment, particularly to the poorest regions, and already some Taiwanese groups have planned to open new factories in Tamil Nadu.