Leather industry occupies a place of prominence in the Indian economy in view of its massive potential for employment, growth and exports. There has been an increasing emphasis on its planned development, aimed at optimum utilization of available raw materials for maximizing the returns, particularly from exports. India’s share in global value added from this sector at constant 2000 prices was 2.1 per cent in 2000 and declined to 1.8 per cent in 20091. Though India has distinct advantages in the leather industry in terms of availability of raw materials with the largest livestock population in the world, the tapped potential in the leather sector, particularly in the high end value chain is still limited. This untapped potential provides the sector significant opportunities for expansion and diversification.