Kothari Industrial Corporation Limited unveils the Phoenix Kothari Footwear Project, a transformative initiative set to redefine the landscape of the Indian footwear industry. Under the dynamic leadership of Mr Jinnah Rafiq Ahmed, Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Kothari Industrial Corporation Limited. this project promises to be a game-changer.
The inauguration ceremony, graced by the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Thiru M.K.Stalin, over video, is a historic event. The presence of Minister for Finance, Thangam Thenarasu, Minister for Transport, S. S. Sivasankar, Minister for Industries, Dr TRB Rajaa, along with Additional Chief Secretary Industries, SIPCOT MD, District Collector, Phoenix Kothari, president, Mr Chang Rong Wu, Phoenix Kothari Leather Park, Chairman, Mr Jinnah Rafiq Ahmed - , Phoenix Kothari and the staff of KICL, Director Mr Chris Chang Xuan Vong adds significance to this momentous occasion.
To realise this vision, Kothari Industrial Corporation Limited formed a Joint-Venture Power Phoenix with the Taiwan-based Shoe Town/Evervan Group. This collaboration envisions the creation of a Footwear Cluster supported by a Material and Machinery Ecosystem. The project saw the participation of 20 international partners, each contributing to the cluster's significance on a global scale. The inauguration marks the beginning of the RJ One Kothari Factory, set to produce 10 million pairs of Crocs footwear annually in its first phase. Plans are already in motion to expand the factory to 20 million pairs annually. Discussions are underway with global giants to establish three additional factories, bringing the total footwear capacity to an impressive 60 million pairs annually. This expansion will employ close to 40,000 people over the next five years.
Careful study led to the selection Perambalur district, a backward region, as the ideal location for this ambitious project. The footwear sector, recognised as a priority by the Government of India and Tamil Nadu, is crucial for providing employment, especially for women from underprivileged societies. This strategic move aims to contribute significantly to saving valuable foreign exchange, as products manufactured in this cluster are import substitutes. It is poised to alter the social fabric of Perambalur District and serve as a beacon of women empowerment for the entire world. The Phoenix Kothari Footwear Project sets a benchmark for the ease of doing business in Tamil Nadu.
Beyond its remarkable production capabilities, the Phoenix Kothari Footwear Project is a harbinger of substantial employment opportunities, especially for the local community in Perambalur. The initiative aims to employ close to 40,000 individuals over the next five years directly, creating a ripple effect that positively influences the socio-economic landscape. The inauguration of the JR One Kothari Factory for Crocs alone will employ 4,000 people when it achieves total production capacity. Furthermore, the collective impact of the envisioned footwear cluster, coupled with the Plug and Play Projects, is projected to generate employment for approximately 50,000 individuals directly. This emphasis on job creation aligns seamlessly with the broader vision of the project, emphasising not just economic growth but also fostering positive societal change.
"We take enormous pride in dedicating the first factory, "JR One Kothari Factory," for Crocs in its first phase on November 28, a year after the groundbreaking ceremony. This project is expected to employ 4,000 people when it reaches total production capacity" said Mr Jinnah Rafiq Ahmed, Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Kothari Industrial Corporation Limited.