It was announced on Wednesday that a new trade fair initiative in India to be launched by APLF Ltd, FOOTWEAR, MATERIALS, MANUFACTURING  & TECHNOLOGY (FMM&T), will take place in Delhi in the Spring of 2009.

This new trade fair will be organised in association with the Indian Footwear Components Manufacturers Association (IFCOMA), one of the leading trade associations servicing the US$ 5 billion Indian footwear industry, with the support of other relevant trade associations. 

FMM&T will service this major Indian industry, which is encountering a growth of 9 -10% per annum.  The new fair will create a platform for both Indian and foreign manufacturers to keep abreast of the latest trends in the manufacture of footwear from design through to the finished product. It will also create a bridge between the footwear manufacturers and the component producers targeting this vast Indian footwear market. The organisers are also planning a number of seminars to augment the trade fair which will be managed by CMP India who have become one of the largest privately owned trade fair organisers in the country. 

CMP India is part of United Business Media plc, a global business media group with operations in more than 30 countries and over 5,000 employees. It organises some of India's largest exhibitions including CPhI (the region's biggest pharmaceutical show), IFSEC (a leading security show), the Embedded Systems Conference (India's only semiconductor exhibition) and Hotelex India (a leading hospitality show).

The Indian Footwear Components Manufacturers' Association (IFCOMA) is a non-profit organisation and the only trade association of Footwear Component Manufacturers in India. It has been an implementing agency under the National Leather Development Program (a UNDP assisted program) and is duly recognised by various ministries of the Government of India and associated institutions. IFCOMA's objectives are to promote interaction among members for development of products of international quality & standards, in order to promote the growth of the Indian footwear component industry in the domestic as well as export markets. 

APLF Ltd, a joint venture between CMP Asia and SIC SA, Paris, has organised annually in Hong Kong since 1984, one of the most important leather related trade fairs in the world, APLF - MATERIALS, MANUFACTURING AND TECHNOLOGY (MM&T) and the twice yearly fashion accessories event - the largest of its kind in Asia -  FASHION ACCESS which highlights footwear, handbags, travelware and a wide range of fashion accessories sourced from all over the world. For the last three years another APLF event, PRIME SOURCE FORUM, the annual meeting of the global apparel industry, has been collocated with FASHION ACCESS.  Additionally, in partnership with the China Leather Industry Association, APLF Ltd organises the annual ALL CHINA LEATHER EXHIBITION in Shanghai.

(09/05/2008)