An important session was held at the International Forum of the Commonwealth of Fashion on topical issues and areas of development of the footwear sub-sector of the light industry. The event gathered a significant number of participants, including representatives of government agencies, representatives of industries and specialists from different regions of the country and the nearest CIS, which underlines the importance of the topic raised.

Among the speakers at the round table were: Nadezhda Ilyina, member of the Federation Council Committee The Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation on the federal structure; Faith Khmyrova, Director of the Department of Light Industry and Forestry Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation; Igor Surin, President of RSCO, Chairman of the Board of Directors of JSC "Russian Leather"; Tatyana Lugina, Chairman of the Bellegprom Concern and other industry experts.

In his speech Vera Khmyrova noted the growth of shoe production and the number of enterprises in Russia.

"Shoe production in the 3rd quarter of 2024 is growing by 17.4% compared to the same period in 2023, which amounted to 114 million pairs. The number of enterprises producing leather and products has also increased from 1.5 thousand in 2023 to 1.6 thousand in 2024," said Vera Khmyrova.

Vera Khmyrova added that in the third quarter of this year there was an increase of 17.4% compared to the same period last year, which indicates an increase in interest in Russian brands, especially in the segments of military footwear and personal protective equipment.

As the participants of the round table emphasized, counterfeit and illegal import of shoes is a big problem for the development of the leather and shoe sector . Experts noted that a significant part of the products enters the market without proper declaration and quality control, and there is also an underestimation of the import value.

"Another problem is counterfeit shoes, a large range of which is sold in urban markets and marketplaces. This cannot but cause concern", – said Vera Khmyrova.

Issues related to laboratory certification and accreditation were also discussed. The participants expressed concern about the quality of the certificates issued, which can be obtained without proper checks.

We talked about government support measures that are provided to improve the situation in the industry. The participants noted the need to further subsidize working capital, reduce credit rates and develop export support programs.

"Today, the leather and shoe industries are well–equipped enterprises with the most modern equipment, capable of producing the most complex materials and types of shoes that are not inferior in quality to their global counterparts. This happened thanks to a very competent, comprehensive approach to support measures developed by The Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Government of Russia. I will note subsidies, as well as purchases of equipment through leasing", – added Igor Surin.

It was noted that in conditions of rising prices for raw materials, the state continues to support the modernization of production facilities through leasing and other measures. This process will be followed by sustained changes in the production structure aimed at improving quality and reducing cost.

But high loan rates, exceeding 21%, remain an important problem. Experts are asking the government to reduce loan rates, which would significantly relieve the industry, which is under pressure from rising costs.

As a result of the discussions, several support measures were proposed for the preservation and development of the shoe and leather industries. Among them are the introduction of a recycling fee for imported shoes, the restriction of duty—free imports of blanks, as well as the creation of support systems to stimulate local producers.

In conclusion, the forum participants expressed hope for support from the state in solving the problems of the domestic light industry. Experts are confident that creating favorable conditions for the market and supporting innovations will help strengthen the positions of Russian manufacturers and improve product quality, which will ultimately affect the well-being of the entire industry.

The importance of discussion formats for the exchange of opinions and experiences at such events was noted Nadezhda Ilyina.

"The leather and shoe industry in many regions of the country makes a significant contribution to the development of the economy and creates additional jobs. The Federation Council pays great attention to topical issues of the light industry, annually holds round tables, meetings with manufacturers, with representatives of the public in order to identify problems and work out joint ways to solve them," Nadezhda Ilyina said.