Kanpur: The Council for Leather Exports on Wednesday joined the department of commerce, government of India, in celebrating the India–UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) Flagging-off Ceremony held at Vanijya Bhawan in New Delhi. The event marked the commencement of duty-free exports under the landmark agreement, opening new opportunitiesfor India’s leather, footwear and allied sectors. The implementation of the India–UK CETA is being viewed as a transformational milestone for the Indian leather and footwear industry.Under the agreement, import duties of up to 16% on leather and footwear products entering UK have been reduced to zero, while 99% Indian tariff lines will enjoy immediate duty-free access to the UK market. Industry experts believe the agreement will place Indian exporters on an equal footing with suppliers from countries already enjoying preferential market access and significantly improve India’s competitiveness in one of the world’s largest premium markets.According to official figures, India’s exports of leather and footwear products to UK stood at 419.67 million dollars during FY2025-26. The Council for Leather Exports estimates that the agreement could help generate additional exports worth 1 billion dollars to 1.5 billion dollars over the next three years due to better market access, improved competitiveness and increased buyer confidence.A key feature of the agreement is the provision allowing eligible manufacturer-exporters to self-certify Certificates of Origin, enabling UK importers to claim preferential duty benefits without procedural hurdles.The move is expected to improve ease of doing business, reduce documentation and transaction costs, speed up customs clearance and further strengthen overseas buyers’ confidence in sourcing from India.The agreement is also expected to benefit thousands of MSMEs, manufacturers, artisans and workers involved in the production of leather footwear, leather goods, saddlery, leather garments, footwear components and allied products. In addition, it is likely to encourage investments, technological upgradation, product innovation and sustainable manufacturing practices across the sector.Welcoming the development, Mukhtarul Amin, vice chairman of the Council for Leather Exports, said the flagging-off ceremony marked the beginning of a new chapter for the Indian leather and footwear sector.“The Agreement strengthens Brand India, enhances buyer confidence and creates immense opportunities for MSMEs and manufacturing clusters across the country. We expect the sector to add nearly 750 million dollars to 1 billion dollars in incremental exports over the next three years while expanding India’s footprint in the United Kingdom through quality, sustainability and innovation,” he said.
