Bharat's Footwear Sector Takes a Step Forward: QCI and FDDI's Strategic Partnership

The Quality Council of India and the Footwear Design and Development Institute have signed an MoU to enhance quality and skill development in Bharat's leather and footwear sector. This collaboration will focus on capability building, certification, testing infrastructure, and accreditation across key footwear clusters, benefitting workers, MSMEs, and industry professionals.

In a pivotal move aimed at transforming Bharat's footwear sector, the Quality Council of India (QCI) and the Footwear Design and Development Institute (FDDI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This strategic alliance promises to bolster the quality, testing, accreditation, and skill ecosystem in the nation’s leather and footwear industry.

The collaboration seeks to craft a structural framework focusing on capacity augmentation, certification, and testing infrastructure enhancement throughout key footwear clusters including Agra, Bahadurgarh, Ranipet, Chennai, Calicut, and Kanpur. Tailored programs will be designed for a diverse audience spanning workers, MSMEs, supervisors, and industry stakeholders to enhance workforce competencies, promote certification, and improve access to testing and accreditation facilities.

QCI’s contribution includes technical guidance and support for accreditation, quality management practices, and awareness-raising initiatives for MSMEs. The partnership will keenly address cluster-specific skilling needs, spearheaded by FDDI, by conducting training programs and identifying laboratory gaps. The agreement also outlines plans for a multi-tiered worker assessment and certification system to acknowledge industry-relevant skills, elevating Bharat's manufacturing future readiness. The MoU is signed by QCI Secretary General Chakravarthy T Kannan and FDDI Managing Director Vivek Sharma.