30/07/2026
A meaningful day for the Dharavi Leather Ecosystem.
We were honoured to host Hon'ble District Collector & District Magistrate, Mumbai City, Smt. Aanchal Goyal, along with officials from the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), the Directorate of Industries, Government of Maharashtra, and other concerned organisations for a field visit to the Dharavi Leather Ecosystem.
The visit began at Maruti Leather Crafts with an introduction to the history, evolution, challenges and opportunities of Dharavi's leather industry. The delegation then visited various units representing shoe manufacturing, traditional Maharashtrian leather craftsmanship, branding and embossing, leather tanning and finishing, and integrated leather goods manufacturing.
The visit highlighted that Dharavi is not merely a collection of individual workshops. It is a living, interconnected manufacturing ecosystem where artisans, specialised units, suppliers and entrepreneurs work together to create value and employment.
Many units within the ecosystem already possess the capability to manufacture products of international standards. With better market access, export facilitation, institutional linkages, skill development and preservation of traditional craftsmanship, the Dharavi Leather Ecosystem has the potential to contribute even more significantly to India's manufacturing and export growth.
Our heartfelt gratitude to Smt. Aanchal Goyal, Hon'ble District Collector & District Magistrate, Mumbai City, for taking the time to walk through the lanes of Dharavi and interact with the artisans and entrepreneurs on the ground.
We also sincerely thank Shri Santosh Pandey, Regional Director (West), Council for Leather Exports (CLE), whose encouragement and efforts were instrumental in making this visit possible. Our sincere appreciation also goes to Shri Vishwajeet Chimankar, Deputy DGFT, Shri M. Backiyavelu, Deputy DGFT, the DGFT Team, Shri Digvijay Pol and the Directorate of Industries, Government of Maharashtra Team, Smt. Prajakta Kadam (EY), and everyone who contributed to making this meaningful initiative a success.
As entrepreneurs, we are not seeking charity. We seek the right opportunities, institutional support and meaningful connections that will help preserve, strengthen and take the Dharavi Leather Ecosystem to the next level.
