In a significant move towards strengthening India’s footwear and leather ecosystem, FDDI and the Quality Council of India (QCI) entered into a landmark collaboration to enhance quality standards, testing, accreditation, certification, and skill development across the sector on 12 June 2026.
This strategic partnership is aimed at building a robust quality ecosystem that supports industrial growth, strengthens workforce capabilities, and enhances the global competitiveness of India’s footwear industry.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by Mr. Vivek Sharma (IRS), Managing Director, FDDI, and Mr. Chakravarthy T. Kannan, Secretary General, QCI, in the presence of senior officials including Dr. A. Raj, Chief Executive Officer, QCI; Mr. Amit Singh, Joint Director, QCI; Heads of NABL, NABET, NABCB and NBQP; and representatives from FDDI Headquarters including Mr. Prashant Kumar Saxena, Head – Business Development; Ms. Rashmi Asthana, Head – International Testing Centre (ITC); and Mr. Sharad Srivastava, Joint Director – Centre of Excellence (CoE).
Under this collaboration, FDDI and QCI will jointly work towards strengthening major footwear clusters across India through capacity building initiatives, workforce assessment and certification, laboratory ecosystem development, promotion of accreditation awareness, enhancement of testing infrastructure, MSME outreach programmes, and cluster-specific skilling interventions.
The partnership envisions the creation of a future-ready manufacturing ecosystem anchored in quality excellence, innovation, and sustainable industrial development. By leveraging institutional strengths and industry expertise, both organizations seek to contribute meaningfully towards enhancing product standards, improving employability, and driving long-term sectoral growth.
This collaboration reflects a shared commitment to empowering India’s footwear and leather industry through world-class standards, skilled manpower, and quality-driven practices, aligned with the national vision of Make in India, Skill India, and Viksit Bharat.
