punjab Inks Mou With Fddi To Give Sports, Footwear Sector Global Edge

Jun16,2026 | Jagrati Lahar Bureau | Chandigarh

*• Strategic pact aims to set up testing lab in Jalandhar, statewide sample centres to bring quality checks to MSMEs doorsteps, says Aman Arora*

*• Aman Arora calls collaboration decisive step to turn Punjab’s traditional industries into tech-driven, global players*

Chandigarh, June 16:

In a major push for skilling, jobs and export in the state, Punjab Industries and Commerce department signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Footwear Design & Development Institute (FDDI), a central institution of national importance, to further strengthen the state’s sports goods, footwear and leather manufacturing ecosystem.

Congratulating the department for the deal, Punjab Industries and Commerce Minister Mr. Aman Arora termed the MoU a decisive step in transforming the state’s traditional strengths into technology-driven, globally competitive capabilities.

"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,” he stated.

At the heart of the partnership is the proposed Sports Goods Testing and Development Laboratory in Jalandhar, one of the country’s foremost manufacturing hubs for sporting equipment. Additionally, the collaboration will roll-out Footwear and Accessories Testing Sample Collection Centres across Punjab, enabling micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to access professional quality-assurance services closer to their production units, the Industries Minister added.

Mr. Aman Arora said that the MoU also envisions a Centre of Excellence and a robust skilling framework that brings together industry, academic institutions, startups and technical experts. Tailored training programmes will focus on emerging areas such as design, product development, quality assurance, retail and fashion accessories. This infrastructure push is designed to help manufacturers reduce product-development time, meet stringent technical requirements of major brands and enhance their competitiveness in both domestic and export markets.

The partnership will foster entrepreneurship development, startup incubation, research collaborations and faculty-expert exchanges to steering Punjab’s industrial base toward higher-value, innovation-driven manufacturing, while bridging gaps in testing infrastructure, skilled manpower and market readiness that have long held back the state's traditional industrial clusters, he added.

The MoU was signed by Director Industries & Commerce Mr. Jaspreet Singh and Mr. Vivek Sharma, Managing Director of FDDI in the presence of Mr. Amit Dhaka, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Invest Punjab.

Administrative Secretary Industries & Commerce, Mr. Gurkirat Kirpal Singh, said that the collaboration would facilitate technology adoption and capacity-building under central and state schemes. CM Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab Government is enabling state-based enterprises to move towards manufacturing that aligns with changing consumer preferences and international market requirements, besides, opening new avenues for Punjab’s youth, entrepreneurs and MSMEs in the sports goods and footwear sectors, he added.