• Aqeel Ahmed, Chairman for Council for Leather Exports

Shri P.R. Aqeel Ahmed, Chairman for Council for Leather Exports (Sponsored by Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India) is also appointed as Chairman of the Leather Sector Skill Council (LSSC) on 11th July, 2019 for a period of 2 years.

The Leather Sector Skill Council is a non-profit organisation functioning under aegis of National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), with the prime objective of providing skill development solutions to the leather, leather products and footwear industry.

Shri Aqeel Ahmed is also the Managing Director of M/s. Florence Shoe Company Pvt. Ltd, Chennai and holds more than 35 years of experience in the leather and footwear industry and serves various organizations and institutions connected with the industry in various capacities.

Shri Aqeel Ahmed is currently serving as Chairman of Council for Leather Exports (CLE) and is also serving as Member of Managing Committee of Federation of Indian Export Organizations(FIEO) Set up by the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Govt. of India; Governing Body Member in Footwear Design and Development Institute (FDDI), An Institute of National Importance as per FDDI Act, 2017 under Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India  and as member of Executive Committees of All India Hide and Skin Tanners and Merchants Association (AISHTMA), South India Shoe Manufacturers Association (SISMA), Indian Shoe Federation (ISF) and Indian Finished Leather Manufacturers and Exporters Association (IFLMEA).

Since its inception in the year 2012, LSSC has carried out significant activities such as upgrading skills of 19,994 workers under STAR scheme and upgrading skills of 49,850 workers RPL scheme, imparted training for 64,078 unemployed youth under PMKVY scheme and Certification of 62,000 existing employees in leather under RPL (Type 4) scheme.

LSSC is also accredited as National Monitoring Unit of the Human Resources Development (HRD) Scheme implemented by Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) under Indian Footwear, Leather and Accessories Development Programme (IFLADP) which aims to train about 4.32 lakh unemployed persons, upgrade skills of 75,000 existing employees and also provide training to 150 master trainers.