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| Sunday, 16 November 2003 |
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Footwear manufacturer to double exports Leading leather-based footwear and goods manufacturer and exporter, Ceylon Leather Products Ltd (CLPL), better known as DI, will double its exports in the coming year. Currently, CLPL exports around Rs 100 million worth of leather-based footwear and products to Japan and Italy, as well as raw leather to India and the United Kingdom. The company has now penetrated new foreign markets specially in Europe to supply footwear and leather-based products with the latest designs. The company is planning to achieve a Rs 200 million export target as a part of its restructuring plan, said a confident CLPL Chief Executive Officer Vasantha Gomez. He said that moving into new markets will help the company achieve its targets. CLPL had invested nearly Rs 25 million for a major factory expansion project at Mattakkuliya. The money for the expansion project was generated through the recent Initial Public Offering, he added. The company owns another factory in Kelaniya which supplies ladies' footwear exclusively to leading Italian and Japanese departmental stores, he added. Gomez said that all designs are done by a qualified panel of foreign designers that include Japanese, Indian and Italian designers who can cater to the taste of foreign markets. The company's turnover has also been increased by 30 per cent against last year, which is Rs 213 million to Rs 275 million. He said that listing in the Colombo Stock Exchange was one of the reasons for the increase in turnover. "Our products are 100 per cent natural and are coming out from a group of selected farmers," said Gomez. The company has one of the biggest tanneries in the country, at Bata Atha. The company caters to a wide range of footwear market segments, and has provided employment to over 375 persons. Speaking of future plans, he said that they are planning to move into the local market too in a bigger way. At present around 90 per cent of the products are exported. The company intends to improve the local dealer distribution network throughout the country next year. At present the company has 10 outlets in selected areas. Currently CLPL supplies leather boots to security forces; presently about 20,000 pairs are supplied for a month. CLPL, General Manager, Sisira Perera said the company manufactures anti-land mine boots for the security forces, but with the peace process, the demand is more and they are also looking at the possibility of exploring opportunities in the African markets. The company is trying to promote this venture through non-government organisations. (HS) |
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