The funding raised by this levy, which currently amounts to 12.5 million euros, seeks to boost the competitiveness of SMEs/SMIs operating in the leather industry. It is funded primarily by major industrial groups in the sector (60%) and by imports (40%), and is redistributed to the smallest companies. It enables these small companies to develop innovation programmes, and research and development programmes, which are key factors in ensuring that they are successful and competitive.
What are the main uses to which the funding raised by this levy is put?
- Adapting industrial expertise to produce better quality hides, boosting industrial performance, improving the design of finished products, sustainable development, etc.
- Maintaining, developing and transferring knowledge, conducting research on behalf of the federations, setting up initial and vocational training courses.
- Accompanying promotion of the leather industry by granting financial assistance to companies, to enable them to participate in domestic and international trade fairs.
Capping the tax has the effect of limiting CTC’s resources and the collective actions taken to promote SMEs, based on the four ‘I’s: International, Investment, Innovation, Industry.