A giant leather footwear and accessory cluster park is now being built in Ratwad, in the Raigad district of Maharashtra, with approval from India's department for the promotion of industry and internal trade (DPIIT).

It will be established as a component of the IFLDP (Indian Footwear and Leather Development Programme), which will cost 1700 crore of rupees through March 31, 2026.

The allocation of grants for such a cluster signifies Maharashtra’s growing strength in the sector and would further revolutionise the state's leather sector, enabling the state to take a leading position in footwear and apparel exports, a state industries department release said.

It will unleash a tremendous employment opportunity, strengthen the leather sector ecosystem and foster the state's overall economic prosperity, it said.

Covering 151 acres, the park is expected to serve as a hub for the leather industry collaboration, innovation and growth by integrating manufacturers, suppliers, designers and artisans.