Economic Survey recognises success of TN in championing growth of non-leather footwear sector: Rajaa

CHENNAI:
Industries Minister TRB Rajaa said on Friday that it is a moment of immense pride for Tamil Nadu as Economic Survey 2025 has recognised the remarkable success of state in championing the growth of the non leather footwear sector.

The minister in a social media platform 'X' said that Tamil Nadu’s contribution to India’s footwear and leather output is unmatched, with the state producing 38% of the country’s footwear and leather products output generating over 2 lakh jobs, and 80-90% of the jobs being generated in the non-leather footwear sector being women.

Stating that this highlights how Tamil Nadu’s progressive policies ensure inclusive and distributed growth under the leadership of Chief minister M K Stalin, he said the state has emerged as the go-to destination for global footwear manufacturing giants like Nike, Puma, Adidas and many many more. "Our focus on developing non-leather footwear hubs like Ranipet and Perambalur has ensured access to talent and created opportunities in regions that needed them the most," the minister said.

"Our efforts through Guidance Tamil Nadu have set benchmarks for investment facilitation and global outreach. With initiatives like the dedicated Footwear and Leather Products Policy 2022 and advanced industry-academia collaboration through WorkLabs, we are building a comprehensive ecosystem that supports both large manufacturers and MSMEs," the minister said.

The Economic Survey, which was released on Friday, stated Guidance actively liaised with Taiwanese agencies to strengthen ties with potential investors in footwear sector. Guidance established contacts with major contract manufacturers of Nike like Pou Chen, Hong Fu, Taekwang and Changshin, positioning Tamil Nadu as an attractive destination for manufacturing.

The survey stated, "The incentive package system offered in Tamil Nadu is flexible and can be tailored to the needs of each investor. Tamil Nadu offers a range of incentives such as capital subsidies, payroll subsidies, and land cost subsidies. The state has launched a dedicated Footwear and Leather Products Policy 2022, which aims to develop a comprehensive ecosystem that supports both large manufacturers and smaller enterprise."

It also stated that the State has focused on developing industrial estates in rural areas to ensure access to a ready workforce, particularly women. "These efforts have attracted foreign investors, such as Feng Tey from Taiwan, who set up contract manufacturing for Nike. It has identified land in districts like Madurai and Sivaganga for future footwear investments, ensuring land availability for potential manufacture," the survey added.