New opportunities for footwear, leather goods manufacturers

by L. S. Ananda WEDAARACHCHI

Four hundred footwear and other leather products manufacturing centres have been set up under the Divi Neguma program launched by the Economic Development Ministry.

Leading shoe manufacturers will provide training and raw material to the new centres according to the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed by the Industrial Development Board (IDB) and Shoe Manufacturers Association.

IDB's Leather and Footwear Development Centre Director L. P. S. Karunadasa said the Shoe Manufacturers Association will buy manufactured goods. The staff of 100 centres have already been trained in the new manufacturing techniques. In the initial phase 100,000 pairs of shoes are estimated to be manufactured monthly, he said.

The IDB will provide a food kit worth over Rs. 10,000 and design books to each trainer, he said.