Prospects for local shoes good
Managing Director, Sinidu Enterprises [manufacturers of the Genelle
brand of upmarket ladies footwear], Sheran Wickremesekera was upbeat
about the local shoe industry on the eve of further expanding his
business by way of a plush new showroom located at Duplication Road,
Colpetty.
|
Wickremesekera at
his factory |
Wickremesekera who has been in the local shoe industry for the last
25 years, having developed his family shoe business from a small-scale
cottage industry employing 7 people, to a medium sized factory providing
employment to 50 people, looks forward to Sri Lankan shoes taking pride
of place in the international market.
"The footwear and leather goods industry is in the forefront of most
developed and developing economies, however Sri Lanka's contribution
towards world exports is only a mere 0.1 percent which illustrates the
scope there is for the export of locally manufactured shoes.
According to Wickremesekera, the industry currently employs
approximately 20,000 people both directly as well as indirectly, while
it has 7 large export companies, 30 medium-scale companies and about
3000 small entities.
He said that the footwear and leather industry has been identified by
the Government as a strategic sector for economic development. This
sector has vast potential like the apparel sector.
In recognition of this, the Government has in the recent past offered
several incentives to facilitate the growth of this sector, including
the imposition of limitations on footwear imports and the increase in
duty on the export of raw hides.
Duty concessions have also been introduced for the acquisition of new
technology, machinery and raw materials.
An Accountant by profession, Wickremesekera always dreamed of running
his own business and when upon returning home after a stint overseas,
his family business was offered to him, he was quick to seize the
opportunity and turn it into the thriving business it is today.
Sinidu Enterprises which manufactures high quality, upmarket ladies
footwear under the brand name Genelle has exported their products to UK
and Australia.
The Company has invested over Rs. 20 million in machinery and raw
materials. 90 percent of the shoes are handmade, with the machinery
being used to improve quality and productivity.
We also have an injection moulding plant to produce our own heels,
said Wickremesekera.
Currently Sinidu Enterprises manufactures between 50,000 - 60,000
pairs of shoes per annum.
In 2006 the Company exported 15,600 pairs of shoes to the UK.
At present Genelle shoes could be found at leading fashion outlets in
Colombo and other principal towns and also at their own retail outlet,
Lakmal Arcade in Mount Lavinia.
Raw materials, ornaments and accessories are imported, while the
adhesives, chemicals, wooden heels, boxes, cartons and thread are
purchased locally, with quality checks being carried out continuously to
maintain a consistently high quality. Machinery such strap cutting
machines, upper/insole folding machines, pressing machines, buffing
machines, and hydraulic upper/bottom cutters are used to ensure quality
and increase production capacity.
With regard to the future prospects for the local footwear industry,
Wickremesekera was of the opinion that there is definitely potential for
locally produced shoes to take their place in the international market;
however the quality of the end product needs to be improved, while the
lack of skilled labour and good quality leather are major obstacles. He
also said that the necessity of having to import both Polyurethane
material as well as the required ornaments and accessories, necessitated
a high outlay of working capital, while the influx of cheap imported
footwear being brought into the country illegally was a matter of great
concern to local footwear manufacturers.
The present export markets for locally manufactured shoes, are mainly
the European countries; however to achieve a significant level of
exports, the industry needs to be better organised.
We intend opening a showroom in every major city in the country and
prove that locally made shoes can match any quality imported product,
whilst being affordable to the local customer."
|