Noida, 27 January 2026: Precision timing, polished intent and a shared appetite for scale defined the minute to minute engagement between the Indian footwear ecosystem and a visiting Vietnam delegation at the Footwear Design and Development Institute. Hosted at Footwear Design & Development Institute in association with IFCOMA, the meeting demonstrated how industry diplomacy works best when it is efficient, forward looking and outcome driven.
(L-R) Ms. Tran Thi Lan Huong and Mr. Bui Trung Thuong, Trade Counsellor and Head of the Trade Office at the Embassy of Vietnam in New Delhi, India
The morning set a confident tone with welcomes from FDDI and IFCOMA, followed by addresses from Vivek Sharma, Managing Director FDDI and Sanjay Gupta, President IFCOMA. Beyond protocol, the opening made one thing clear. This engagement was designed to move fast from dialogue to delivery.
“India’s strength in components and Vietnam’s manufacturing scale are highly complementary. If aligned well, this partnership can create a more resilient and competitive regional supply chain.” Sanjay Gupta, President IFCOMA, summed up the opportunity succinctly.
Sanjay Gupta, President IFCOMA
The Indian Footwear Playbook
FDDI presented a concise overview of India’s footwear ecosystem, covering education, research and development, testing, design and skill development. IFCOMA followed with a focused perspective on the components industry, highlighting manufacturing clusters, export capability and the growing depth of India’s supplier base.
An open discussion explored manufacturing partnerships, sourcing models, technology exchange and design collaboration. The tone remained practical, with emphasis on structures that are commercially viable and scalable.
Reflecting industry sentiment, Ajay Gaur observed: “Successful joint ventures will depend less on cost advantages and more on shared technology, consistent quality and a long term view of global markets.”
FDDI outlined its role in supporting partnerships through research and development, product and design support, quality testing and training. The discussion also touched upon the possibility of a memorandum of understanding with Vietnamese institutions to formalize cooperation.
Highlighting FDDI’s facilitative role, Vivek Sharma IRS, MD FDDI, stated: “Our role is to act as an enabler. Whether it is design, testing, or skill development, FDDI ensures that collaborations are backed by capability, compliance and globally accepted standards.”
Vivek Sharma IRS, MD-FDDI addressing the audience
Invest India Sets the Investment Context
A dedicated presentation by Invest India added a strong policy and investment lens to the discussions. The session was delivered by Tripti Pandey, who outlined India’s footwear manufacturing opportunities, investment facilitation mechanisms and the ease of doing business framework for foreign partners.
Tripti Pandey, Invest india
Addressing the delegation, Tripti Pandey noted: “India offers a unique combination of scale, skilled manpower and a rapidly improving manufacturing ecosystem. For global footwear players, the opportunity lies not just in sourcing, but in building long term production and innovation partnerships in India.”
Industry Participation
The meeting saw strong participation from across the footwear and allied ecosystem, underlining the industry’s keen interest in India-Vietnam collaboration. Members in attendance included Dipika Chopra, Pankaj Sinha, Amit Chopra, Yogesh Madan, Sumit Kumar, Eric Illig, Prem Madan, Pradeep Walia, Naveen Anand, Sudhir Rustagi, Kartik, Madan, Virender Narula, Manoj Bhaiya (online), Saurabh Maghan, Sanjay Kumar, Manju, Dr. Renu Sharma and Manoj Agarwal, among others.
Their presence added depth to the discussions, ensuring that perspectives from manufacturing, components, retail, design and trade promotion were well represented turning the dialogue into a genuinely industry-led conversation rather than a top-down exercise.
Amit Chopra, MD Shoes & Accessories
Vietnam’s Upcoming Footwear Hub
The Vietnam delegation presented plans for an upcoming footwear hub and invited participation from IFCOMA members, underlining opportunities for Indian component manufacturers and technology providers. Discussions also covered trade promotion support, including participation in Vietnamese trade fairs, reserved stalls, special commercial terms and structured business to business matchmaking. Reciprocal industry visits were identified as a practical next step to accelerate engagement.
Deepak Manchanda, General Secretary-IFCOMA
The meeting concluded with clear action points, including the formation of a joint working group, indicative timelines and defined follow up mechanisms. The session closed with a vote of thanks by Deepak Manchanda, General Secretary-IFCOMA, exchange of mementos and informal interaction. Delegates later toured the FDDI complex to view laboratories and facilities, followed by lunch. The post meeting interactions reinforced a clear takeaway. This was not a ceremonial exchange, but a strategically aligned conversation with execution firmly in sight.
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