India to train Lankan footwear designers

The Ministry of Industrial Development together with the private sector have invested Rs. 3.5 million to train 10 footwear designers in India.

The Ministry financed 50 percent of the cost while the balance was borne by the companies they are employed.

They will be trained at the Footwear Designing Development Institute (FDDI), one of the best training centres in footwear design in New Delhi. Footwear such as garments has been identified as a sector for investments by international investors, but the major problem to develop the sector is the shortage of footwear designers.

The advisory committee on footwear has presented several proposals to improve the sector and training of footwear designers was one of them.

Considering the potential in the sector the Industrial Development Minister Kumar Welgama arranged a six-month training program in India. It will cost Rs. 350,000 per person.

The batch of 10 left for India last week and when they return they are expected to train people in footwear designing.

According to a spokesman for the Ministry investors prefer Sri Lanka as a potential destination for investment due to the high literacy rate and low labour costs.

S.G