By K P Sasi Nair

The footwear manufacturing industry is growing by leaps and bounds in Kerala in the recent years. These small scale industries located all over the coastal state in south India is progressing into a full-fledged industry, creating job opportunities for the local population and earning huge revenue for the state.

In the wake of the state government implementing introducing small-scale industry friendly promotional schemes in the state, the growth of small scale industries especially the footwear manufacturing industry has soared to big heights. The government’s small-scale industry promotion policy has opened the floodgate of opportunities for people in Kerala to

Just like Italy which is considered to be the international destination for apparel fashion, Kerala is gradually branding itself to be the international capital of leather footwear. If this industry is is given a big thrust by the state as well as the Centre, Kerala’s footwear industry will prominently create a niche for itself on the export map of India.

There is an opportunity for leather foot wear designers to set up shops in the state and thereby capitalise on the elaborate infrastructure existing in the state, to promote the future growth of this industry and create a broad pathway for opening the doors for exports.

The state cabinet also needs to personally work towards boasting the growth of this industry by creating a special financial package, since the state finance department lacks funds to promote this industry.

Nevertheless, it must admitted that the state government is making efforts to provide a thrust to the growth of this industry and is planning to set up conversion centres at Kozhikode to eliminate hurdles in the growth of the footwear manufacturing industry.