Chennai-based Farida group has made a foray into the Chinese shoe market with four international brands including Clarks.
The Farida group, which has shoe manufacturing facilities in and around Chennai and in Ambur, has already exported over one lakh pairs of men’s shoes to China and plans to double it during the current year.
Talking to The Hindu , the group Chairman Rafeeque M. Ahmed said “At a time when everyone was complaining about the entry of Chinese products into Indian market, we thought it as an opportunity for our products. We wanted to prove that India can also manufacture branded and quality products. We are the early movers, and there are also some Indian firms selling children shoes.”
The Farida group boasts of a turnover of Rs.1,100 crore, and its main focus so far was in Germany, England, South Asia and Malaysia markets. This is the first time it entered the Chinese market. Last year, India exported $2.5 billion worth of leather footwear and footwear components to various countries. Exports to China accounts for nearly Rs.35 crore and it would reach Rs.100 crore over the next three years, he said.
Mr. Ahmed, who is also the President of the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO), has urged the Centre to allocate separate fund of Rs.15 crore to market Indian products in China. “While everyone is talking about import of Chinese goods, no one is talking about exporting goods to China. We have to participate in the Kunming South Asia expo and commodities fairs regularly to showcase our products,” Mr. Ahmed said.
“We have received an invitation from the Chinese government to set up a warehouse in Kunming at a nominal cost. We are working on the proposal, and it will become a reality by the year-end. The warehouse will be utilised to sell all types of products and commodities,” said a FIEO official.
