(a) whether the Government is intending to set up a leather goods export park in the country;
(b) if so any proposal received from States;
(c) by when will they be set up in respecting States and the details of employment opportunities created by setting up of these export parks;
(d) whether Government of West Bengal has registered for release of Rs. 400 crore fund for modernization of leather industry; and
(e) if so, the reaction of the Government thereto ?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( Shri E.V.K.S. ELANGOVAN)
(a) to (c) The Government has approved a proposal for establishment of Leather Goods Export Park at Kolkata, West Bengal with an outlay of Rs. 5.0 crores. The Government assistance will be utilized for common infrastructure like design studio, common facility centre, display-cum-warehousing facility etc. The Council for Leather Exports ( CLE) is the implementing agency for the project and has been requested to submit the Detailed Project Report (DPR). Details of the employment opportunities in the Leather Goods Park would be known after the preparation of the DPR.
(d & e) Government of West Bengal has requested for funds under the Indian Leather Development Programme (ILDP) towards modernization and technology upgradation of leather units, located in West Bengal. Indian Leather Development Programme (ILDP) has an outlay of Rs. 400 crores in the Tenth Five Year Plan. The programme involves technology upgradation/ modernization of individual units, infrastructure development, capacity building and productivity improvement in Leather Sector across the country. The scheme for technology upgradation and modernization in the leather sector with an outlay of Rs. 290 crores is yet to be approved by the competent authority.