India’s skill development minister, Mahendra Nath Pandey, assured the footwear industry on Friday that the hurdles being faced in the construction of the Agra leather park would be overcome. He also took time out to appreciate the efforts of traders and claimed that Agra was a dominant player in the footwear manufacturing sector.

The minister was speaking during the inauguration of the 13th edition of ‘Meet at Agra’ organised by the Agra Footwear Manufacturers and Exporters Chambers (AFMEC). The event is a conglomeration of leather, footwear components and technology fair and is being organised at the Agra Trade Centre at Singhna village on NH-2, Agra.

“Agra is playing a major role in shoe manufacturing and shining at the global level. For better prospects of footwear manufacturers of Agra, efforts will be made to construct the proposed ‘leather park’ here,” he said.

“I will meet union environment minister Prakash Javadekar and share the problem Agra is facing in the construction of the leather park due to Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ). We will get some solution soon, so that traders have a specific place in the city,” he shared.