In Sri Lanka, a strong Indian delegation of leather and footwear industry participated in a three -day exhibition at Colombo which concluded yesterday. A total of 34 Indian firms representing India's Confederation of Indian Footwear Industry, Council for Leather Exports and Indian Footwear Components Manufacturers Association joined the Exhibition 'Footwear and Leather Fair'. Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen welcomed the Indian delegation and called upon them to invest in technological upgradation of the sector. He also announced setting up of first footwear and leather industry city in the Batticalao of eastern province.<br/> <br/>Chennai based GTFC, a footwear materials and components supplier, has joined the Colombo fair for the first time and showed high enthusiasm. Mr. Parthasarthy, head of company's operations told AIR that they are introducing modern, green manufacturing based, recyclable shoe components to Sri Lanka, for the first time through this Fair. He said that Sri Lankan technology is at least a decade behind which collaborations with Indian companies can help to bridge. India is the world's second largest leather shoe manufacturer.