 "Kinfra plans footwear park at Kozhikode")
The proposed project, with a project cost of Rs 107 crore, is expected to be completed in two years. The park would have facilities for manufacturing footwear and raw material for the industry. It would also house leather-based industrial units.
The industrial park is expected to emerge as a big boost to the 200 footwear manufacturing units located in north Kerala. It is expected to generate 5,500 new employment opportunities.
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The project aims to make the state among the important footwear manufacturing centres in the country, as it would feature all necessary infrastructure for the development of modern and technology-based footwear industry.
India is ranked second globally in the manufacture of footwear products and with a sizeable market, many foreign companies had established new units in the country.
The footwear market in Kerala is worth Rs 600 crore annually, and there is a large scope for local production. The footwear industry made its presence in the state with the establishment of new ventures in the state's Malabar region. While there are more than 200 manufacturing units in the region, footwear of international standards is not being produced.
Kinfra proposes to develop common infrastructure facilities in the proposed leather park, which includes providing dedicated power, water supply, communication facilities, plug-and-play arrangement to fasttrack investment. It is also being envisaged to create a facility for instant global access through a state-of-the-art communication network.
Kinfra also proposes to develop a footwear institute in on five acre adjacent to the footwear park. The institute will hold training centres, design centres and innovation centres. The skilled manpower to the proposed cluster can be generated from the proposed footwear institute.