New Delhi, Jan. 15 -- As India's footwear and leather industry undergoes a tectonic shift towards automation and global competitiveness, the Footwear Design & Development Institute (FDDI) has unveiled its "Vision 2030" roadmap. The strategy, launched during the institute's Foundation Day and Industry Conclave on January 15, signals a move away from traditional manufacturing toward an innovation-led, sustainable ecosystem.

The roadmap focuses on five key pillars: innovation-led education, environmental sustainability, entrepreneurship, deep industry integration, and global competitiveness.

The initiative comes at a critical time as the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) seeks to position India as a primary al...