Business Environment of Indian Footwear Industry: A Case Study of Agra Footwear Industry

Abstract: One of India's oldest manufacturing sectors, the leather and leather products sector began to compete internationally in the middle of the 19th century. The leather industry plays a major role in Indian economy. India produces 17.7 billion pairs of shoes annually, making it the second-largest global footwear producer after China. Agra is one of major production centers of footwear in India. The footwear industry in Agra is rapidly expanding, has a high potential for employment, and makes up a sizeable portion of India's overall footwear exports. This research aims to analyze growth and potential of Agra industry and ways to improve the conditions. Data have been collected from various secondary sources. The study finds that footwear sector is becoming the emerging segment of the leather industry of India as it is earning much of the foreign exchange for the country and providing employment to millions of people. However, the industry is facing certain issues like that of GST, beef ban, among others, which is hindering the growth of industry. It faces challenges in meeting their desired targets. But with the support of Government, industry will reach new targets and become one of the prosperous sectors. Keywords: Footwear Industry, Manufacturing, SWOT Analysis JEL Classification Number: D24, F10, L10