President Droupadi Murmu has called on India’s footwear industry to widen its scale and ambition, urging companies and institutions to capitalise on the strong global demand for sports and non-leather footwear. Speaking at the convocation ceremony of the Footwear Design and Development Institute, she said India has secured its place among the world’s major exporters, yet the country is still operating below its true potential.
The President noted that global buyers are rapidly shifting toward lightweight sports shoes, athleisure styles and synthetic alternatives. These categories are expanding faster than traditional leather lines, giving India room to capture greater market share if the industry strengthens design, quality and production capacity. She added that the commerce and industry ministry is pushing new investment-linked measures to help companies modernise factories and scale up high-value categories.
India recorded footwear exports of more than 2.5 billion dollars in the financial year ending 2025. Imports stood at around 680 million dollars, reflecting a steady appetite for foreign brands but also showing how domestic manufacturers can grow further by improving technology and branding. Officials familiar with trade trends say global buyers are increasingly diversifying their sourcing footprint, creating more opportunities for Indian producers that can offer reliable capacity and shorter delivery cycles.
President Murmu told graduates and industry representatives that the sector can generate significant employment for young designers and technicians if companies accelerate innovation. She stressed the need for stronger collaborations between design schools, manufacturers and global retailers to help India move up the value chain.
Industry observers believe the upcoming investment pipeline, combined with new infrastructure in manufacturing clusters, could help India target a sharper rise in exports over the next few years.
The President said India’s long-term goal is not only to boost shipments but to establish itself as a centre of advanced footwear design and sustainable production.
