Friday, March 8, 2013

INDIAN LEATHER FAIR 2013

HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL INDIAN LEATHER FAIR 2013


V.M. Khaleelur Rahman

The India International Leather Fair (IILF) being organized by India Trade Promotion Organization (ITPO) is very much on the growth year by year. Its 28th version held from 1st to 3rd February 2013 after its glittering opening on 31st January 2013 in Chennai was highly successful.

The fair was inaugurated by Dr. D. Purandeswari, honorable minister for commerce and industry, Govt. of India in the august presence of Mrs. Rita Menon, chair person and managing director, ITPO, S. Jagatharakshan, honorable minister of state for commerce and industry, Govt. of India, Mr. R.K. Jalan, Chairman, Council for Leather Exports, Mr. N. Shafeeque Ahmed, Vice-Chairman, Council for Leather Exports, Mr. P. R. Aqeel Ahmed, Regional Chairman (SR), Council for Leather Exports in a traditional manner by lighting a lamp.

The event which displayed the entire range of products relating to leather industry, from raw materials to finished products, etc was undoubtedly a big annual event very much useful to the leather industry as a whole. It attracted exhibitors from more than 400 companies including about 100 from more than 20 foreign countries.

As rightly pointed out by Mr. M. Rafeeque Ahmed, President, All India Skin and Hide Tanners and Merchants Association (AISHTMA), it is a specialized fair for sourcing of machinery, materials and components, etc. Mr. N. Shafeeque Ahmed has aptly said that it has grown bigger and better year after year. All will endorse these points of views. It is learnt that many people who wanted to participate in it could not get the space. The demand is so much.

There were also a dozen Pakistani exhibitors in the fair this year. Last year Pakistan did not participate in it. Though there are only a few tanners and leather and leather products exporters in Pakistan, one feels on seeing their displayed items that they have made good improvements perhaps because of the government incentives and higher exchange rates they are able to get there. They are also allowed to export unfinished leathers to boost their country’s exports as exporters in many other developing and developed countries are allowed to export them. India has followed a different restrictive export policy despite demand from a section of the leather industry to permit export of all kinds of leathers freely without any restrictions whatsoever as many other countries do.

The Indian Shoe Federation (ISF) organized a BRAINSTORMING session on design needs for the Indian leather sector on 1st February 2013 at Hotel Le Meredien. Many leading lights of the Indian leather sector, directors of leading institutes and distinguished invitees were present on the occasion. Mr. K. R. Vijayan, President, ISF welcomed the gathering and expressed his happiness at the large turnout of the industry leaders which he said clearly underlined the importance of “Design” to all of them.

Prof. Pradyumna Vyas, Director, National Institute of Design (NID) addressed the gathering expressing his happiness that CLE was integrating Design into their plans for the industry. He explained in detail how strategic use of Design could make the industry competitive. Among those who spoke on the occasion were leading leaders like Mr. M. Rafeeque Ahmed, Mr. Habib Hussain, Mr. Naresh Bhasin, Mr. N. Shafeeque Ahmed, Mr. P.V. Gopalakrishnan Bachi, Dr. G. Thyagarajan, Mr. Mohan Srinivas and others.

The ISF also organized a Tea Meet on the same day at the Chennai Trade Centre when the Shoemaker 2013 was released by Mr. M. Rafeeque Ahmed, President, AISHTMA.

CHENNAI LEATHER MARKET

Local market is somewhat slow in operations as leather and leather products exporters are not able to pay the present high asking prices of tanners for their goat and sheep skins. Overseas customers are also slow in entering into contracts with exporters here either due to high ruling prices or lack of interest for new business.

Quotations of exporters are as under:

GOAT LEATHERS

Material Size/sq. ft. Substance Selection Price US$ per sq. ft. C&F

Goat upper leather 3/5 or 4/7 0.6/0.8 mm ABC 2.50

Goat milled leather 4/7 0.6/0.8 mm E 2.00

Goat suede leather 4/7 0.6/0.8 mm All Suede 2.50

Goat lining leather

3/5 or 4/7 0.5/0.7 mm TR-1/2/3 1.50/1.40/1.30

6/9 0.6/0.8 mm TR-1/2/3 1.60/1.50/1.40

F/C SHEEP LEATHERS

Material Size/sq.ft. Substance Selection Price US$ per sq. ft. C&F

Sheep Suede/Cabretta leather 4/7 0.6/0.8 mm ABC 2.70

Sheep Suede/cabretta leather 6/9 0.8/1.00 mm ABC 2.85

Sheep lining leather 3/5 or 4/7 0.5/0.7 mm TR-1 1.75

The above prices are just indications. They may differ depending on the quality and standard.

(VMK in Indian Leather, March 2013)





Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Fw: News Report of Committee on Girls' Education



----- Forwarded Message -----
From: shabistan gaffar <shabistangaffar@gmail.com>
To: Junais Mannarkkad <junaismkd1@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, 5 March 2013 8:53 PM
Subject: News Report of Committee on Girls' Education

Dear Sir/Madam,

                Please see the Article published in the News Paper 'The Hindu" on the Report and Recommendations on Minority Girls' Education in India prepared by the Committee on Girls' Education constituted by the National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions, Govt. of India. 

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/bottom-of-the-rung/article4478245.ece



With kind regards,


Dr. Shabistan Gaffar
Chairperson
Committee on Girls' Education
National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions
Government of India
New Delhi