CCLA, AFMEC and FAFM Organize Agra Footwear Conclave

Agra: The Corporate Council for Leadership & Awareness (CCLA), Agra Footwear Manufacturers & Exporters Chamber (AFMEC), and Fraternity of Agra Footwear Manufacturers (FAFM) jointly organized the Agra Footwear Conclave at Hotel Holiday Inn on Saturday. The conclave brought together industry leaders, policymakers and experts to discuss emerging opportunities and challenges in the footwear sector. Experts emphasized that in today’s competitive marketplace, businesses should focus on value addition, innovation, quality and brand building rather than discounts to attract and retain customers.

The conclave was inaugurated by Puran Dawar, President of AFMEC and Chairman of CCLA; Kuldeep Singh Kohli, President of FAFM; Vinod Katyal, Chief Patron; Manish Luthra, Vice President; and Deepak Manchanda, General Secretary of IFCOMA.

Three Technical Sessions Focused on the Future of the Industry

The conclave featured three focused sessions covering key industry issues.

The first session highlighted the opportunities created by the Geographical Indication (GI) Tag awarded to Agra Leather Footwear and discussed how it can strengthen the city’s global identity and brand value.

The second session focused on e-commerce, where experts from Delhi shared insights into digital marketing, online retail, customer engagement and emerging market trends.

The third session explored the China Plus One strategy, discussing how India’s footwear industry, particularly Agra, can position itself as a reliable global manufacturing alternative to China.

Industry experts Dharmendra Gupta, Nikhil Rishi, Shruti Kaul, Nikita Magan and Hitesh Bhardwaj shared their perspectives during the sessions.

Industry Must Build Strong Brands

Addressing the gathering, Puran Dawar said that Agra’s footwear industry has the potential to emerge as a global leader through collective efforts and strategic collaboration.

He remarked, “We should not fear competition. Markets grow where competition exists. The implementation of BIS standards provides manufacturers with an opportunity to establish themselves as trusted brands. Every new regulation may bring initial challenges, but its long-term benefits are significant.”

Kuldeep Singh Kohli said the discussions on the GI Tag and BIS standards were highly productive and stressed the need for the industry to move forward with unity, positivity and a shared vision. He noted that such platforms help create an environment of collaboration and confidence among stakeholders.

Nishesh Agrawal of Sleen India introduced Agra’s first BIS Testing Laboratory, while representatives from Rankel and Sun Consultants addressed several misconceptions regarding BIS compliance through detailed presentations.

Distinguished Participants

The conclave was attended by leading industry members, including Chandra Mohan Sachdeva (Alert Sole), Pradip wasan (wasan Group), Sameer Dhingra, Deepak Popatani, Chander Daulatani, Abhishek Ralli, Sankalp Ralli, Sumit Kapoor, and Sanjay Ahuja.

Guests were welcomed by Rajendra Magan, Treasurer of FAFM, and Tarun Mahajan. The event was coordinated by Ajay Sharma, General Secretary, CCLA, along with Shri Brajesh Sharma, Convenor, Corporate Council for Leadership & Awareness (CCLA), and Dr. R. N. Sharma on behalf of CCLA. The proceedings were conducted by Vikas Bagga and Nakul Manchanda, while the vote of thanks was delivered by Sanchit Munjal, Secretary of FAFM.