Chandigarh, June 17
The Punjab Industries and Commerce Department has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Footwear Design and Development Institute (FDDI) to strengthen and modernise the state’s sports goods, footwear and leather manufacturing ecosystem.
The partnership aims to improve testing infrastructure, skill development, innovation support, and market access for manufacturers, particularly micro, small, and medium enterprises across Punjab.
As part of the agreement, a Sports Goods Testing and Development Laboratory will be established in Jalandhar, a major manufacturing center for sporting equipment. The initiative will also see the setting up of footwear and accessories testing sample collection centers across the state, enabling businesses to access professional testing and quality assurance services closer to their production facilities.
Punjab Industries and Commerce Minister Aman Arora described the agreement as an important step towards building technology-driven and globally competitive manufacturing capabilities in the state.
“Our objective is to provide the sector with modern testing infrastructure, skilled manpower, design and innovation support, and stronger market linkages. This partnership will enable our MSMEs to become part of national and global supply chains and expand their export presence,” Arora said.
The agreement also includes plans to establish a center of excellence and to develop a comprehensive skilling framework that involves industry stakeholders, academic institutions, start-ups, and technical experts.
According to the department, specialised training programmes will focus on areas such as design, product development, quality assurance, retail, and fashion accessories. The initiative is expected to help manufacturers reduce product development timelines, meet international quality standards, and improve competitiveness in domestic and overseas markets.
The collaboration is also expected to support entrepreneurship, start-up incubation, research partnerships, and knowledge exchange programmes. Officials said these efforts would help address long-standing challenges in testing facilities, the availability of a skilled workforce, and market readiness in traditional industrial clusters.
Administrative Secretary, Industries and Commerce, Gurkirat Kirpal Singh, said the partnership would promote technology adoption and capacity building through various central and state government schemes.
The initiative forms part of Punjab’s broader efforts to encourage innovation-driven manufacturing and strengthen the state’s position in national and global markets.
