FDDI played a key role in leading the industry conversation on the development of Bihar’s leather and footwear sector during the Roundtable Discussion on “Opportunities in Bihar’s Leather & Footwear Sector” held in Patna on 22 September 2026.

The Industries Minister, Government of Bihar, Ms. Shreyasi Singh, welcomed Vivek Sharma, IRS, Managing Director, FDDI, and senior industry representatives participating in the discussion.

The FDDI delegation, led by Vivek Sharma, brought together industry perspectives on the opportunities and requirements for building a strong footwear manufacturing ecosystem in Bihar.

The discussions focused on: Developing Mahwal, Muzaffarpur as an integrated leather and footwear manufacturing ecosystem. Attracting footwear and footwear component manufacturers to Bihar.  Building a skilled workforce aligned with industry requirements. Strengthening supply-chain and common infrastructure. Supporting technology adoption, product development and industry collaboration. Creating opportunities for investment, expansion and employment. During the interaction, Shri Vivek Sharma highlighted the scale and quality of infrastructure being developed at the Mega Leather, Footwear & Accessories Park, Mahwal, and the potential to establish a complete footwear manufacturing ecosystem.

FDDI also expressed its commitment to supporting Bihar through skilling, training, technical expertise, industry engagement and development of industry-oriented capabilities.

The roundtable brought together senior officials from the Government of Bihar, FDDI Officials, IFCOMA President and leading industry players including Reliance, Bata, Aqualite Footwear, Abros Shoes, Asian Shoes, ABC Leathers, Competence Exports and Soleworks Footwear.

The engagement marks an important step towards connecting Bihar’s industrial infrastructure with FDDI’s technical expertise and the requirements of the footwear industry.