The Footwear Design and Development Institute Bill, 2017 was introduced by Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala<br/>Sitharaman in the Lok Sabha today. The bill seeks to declare the Footwear Design and Development Institute, an institution of national importance for the promotion and development of quality and excellence in education, research and training in all disciplines relating to footwear and leather products design.<br/><br/> The bill empowers the institute to grant degrees, diplomas and certificates to students. The Bill has a provision of setting up of Governing Council of the institute. The institute will conduct skill development programmes and provide technical assistance to artisans, craftsmen, manufacturers, designers and exporters.<br/> <br/>It will also develop an international centre for creation and transmission of information, with a focus on educational, professional and industrial commitments. The Footwear Design and Development Institute was<br/>established in 1986 with the objective of providing skilled<br/>human resource to the leather sector.<br/> <br/>AIR correspondent reports that the footwear, leather and retail sector in India has been growing both in terms of value and volume and India is the third biggest market of footwear and prominent exporter of the footwear and leather goods. Being a highly labour intensive industry, there is immense requirement for trained human resources for leather and footwear sector. <br/><br/>The Global footwear market is expected to reach 220.2 billion dollar by 2020 from the current level of 198.7 billion dollars. <br/>