New Delhi: Jointly organised by the Vietnam Trade Office in India and the Vietnam Leather, Footwear and Handbag Institute, the dialogue brought together policymakers, industry leaders and research institutions from both countries setting the stage for a more integrated and future-ready footwear ecosystem.
Reinforcing its role as a catalyst for global industry partnerships, IFCOMA and FDDI underscored the growing strategic alignment between India and Vietnam at the recent seminar, “Shaping the Future of Vietnam–India Footwear Cooperation,” held on April 9. India’s resource advantage and Vietnam’s manufacturing and export capabilities create a strong strategic fit, paving the way for closer integration across global footwear supply chains.
Opening the session, Bui Trung Thuong set the tone: “The footwear sector plays a critical role in economic growth, exports, and employment in both countries. Our complementary strengths offer immense potential to integrate more deeply into global value chains.”
From the policy side, Tran Xuan Thuy emphasised Vietnam’s evolution:“Vietnam is moving beyond contract manufacturing toward design, branding, and higher value creation. We welcome stronger collaboration, including Indian investment in supporting industries.”
From IFCOMA’s perspective, the conversation highlighted a clear inflection point. With India’s footwear industry on a strong growth trajectory targeting a $50 billion valuation by 2030, the timing is ripe to deepen collaboration with Vietnam, a global leader in manufacturing and exports. The complementary strengths are evident: India’s robust raw material base paired with Vietnam’s manufacturing efficiency presents a powerful opportunity to co-create resilient and sustainable value chains.
IFCOMA emphasised the need to translate this synergy into tangible outcomes through joint ventures, technology transfer and production partnerships that can serve both domestic and global markets. The focus is not just on scale, but on building a future-oriented ecosystem anchored in sustainability, innovation and competitiveness.
Representing IFCOMA, Sanjay Gupta highlighted India’s growth momentum “With India targeting a $50 billion footwear industry by 2030, this is the right moment to build joint ventures, enable technology transfer, and co-create a sustainable manufacturing ecosystem for global markets.”
On the skilling and innovation front, Renu Sharma, FDDI noted: “There is significant scope for collaboration in training, research, and innovation—through student exchanges, joint programmes, and shared knowledge platforms.”
The seminar also reinforced the importance of strengthening institutional and business linkages. Discussions around skill development, research collaboration and participation in key industry platforms such as the upcoming Meet at Agra Fair signal a growing appetite for deeper engagement across the value chain, particularly in materials and component manufacturing.
Adding an industry connect, Gopal Gupta extended an open invitation: “We welcome Vietnamese companies to the Meet at Agra Fair this October as a platform to explore partnerships, particularly in materials and component ecosystems.”
As both nations continue to expand their footprint in the global footwear landscape, India as the second-largest producer and consumer, and Vietnam as a leading exporter IFCOMA sees this partnership as a strategic lever to unlock new growth avenues, enhance supply chain resilience, and position Asia as a powerhouse in next-generation footwear manufacturing.
