India is the world's second-largest footwear sector, employing more than 2 million people across around 15,000 manufacturing units. Leather, footwear and accessories exports reached US$4.75 billion in FY2025–26, while the industry has been encouraged to target US$15 billion in exports over the next five to six years.
The opportunity now extends beyond production.
The next question is how effectively Indian enterprises can compete, connect and scale.
The MSME Opportunity
Footwear reflects a much larger MSME story.
According to the Economic Survey 2025–26, MSMEs contribute 31.1% of GDP, 35.4% of manufacturing output and 48.58% of exports. Their deeper integration into global value chains can further support job-rich industrial growth.
The footwear ecosystem extends well beyond large manufacturers and exporters. It includes micro-enterprises, suppliers, traders, workshops and specialised production networks.
The capability exists.
The emerging gap is discoverability.
Agra: Where Footwear Capability Meets Opportunity
Agra is one of India's established footwear clusters.
Government data describes the Agra–Mathura cluster as largely driven by small family workshops and MSMEs, producing about 1.5 lakh pairs a day and supporting 10,000–15,000 workers across production, finishing and retail. Agra Leather Footwear is also GI-registered and promoted under ODOP.
AFMEC publishes broader industry estimates for the cluster. These figures vary in scope and methodology and should therefore be viewed as industry estimates, not a current census.
Agra has deep manufacturing capability. The opportunity is to connect that capability with the digital economy.
From Being Online to Being Discoverable
The first digital shift was about having an online presence.
The next is about being found, understood and connected.
For MSMEs, the emerging equation is:
Video can demonstrate what a business actually does—its products, processes, people and capabilities.
AI can add an intelligence layer, helping users discover relevant businesses, information and opportunities more efficiently.
Being online is no longer enough. Being discoverable matters.
A Business Environment in Transition
India's enterprise ecosystem is increasingly connecting digital access, market participation, quality and skills.
The Ministry of MSME's TEAM initiative supports micro and small enterprises in participating in digital commerce through ONDC, including onboarding, cataloguing, logistics and customer management.
As of 31 December 2025, around 206,000 merchants had completed at least one transaction on ONDC, alongside approximately six lakh service providers on the network.
The footwear ecosystem is also strengthening quality, testing and skilling infrastructure, including through the QCI–FDDI partnership covering key clusters such as Agra.
Market access, digital participation, quality and skills are becoming connected elements of enterprise competitiveness.
From Local Capability to Wider Markets
Consider a small footwear enterprise in Agra.
The skills, people and products may already exist. What may be missing is visibility beyond its established network. A stronger digital identity can improve discovery—and the same principle extends beyond footwear to manufacturers, suppliers, traders and emerging enterprises across India.
Looking Ahead
India has the skills, manufacturing strength and entrepreneurial energy to compete globally. The next advantage will come from connecting these strengths with technology, knowledge and opportunity.
As India moves towards Viksit Bharat 2047, MSMEs must move beyond simply being online—to becoming visible, discoverable, connected and opportunity-ready.
Business Tokri brings together video, AI, business knowledge and digital connections to make enterprise discovery more accessible.
Make capability visible.
Make businesses discoverable.
Make opportunity wider.
Technology cannot replace enterprise capability—but it can shorten the distance between capability and opportunity.
Business Tokri — Showcase. Connect. Learn. Grow.
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