German shoe co. shifts manufacturing to Agra from China, 2000 employed so far
Nov 06, 2020
New Delhi [India], November 6 : Amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, a German shoe brand, Von Wellx, recently shifted its manufacturing units to Agra, Uttar Pradesh, from China.
The shoe company operationalised two production units in Agra earlier this week.
Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra, meanwhile, has welcomed the German shoe brand to the country, terming it a "huge opportunity" for India.
Mahindra said that this "trickle" would soon turn into "a flood" of investment.
"The first few drops, which turn into a trickle, then a strong flow and finally a flood. Let's make sure we do nothing to prevent this good flood of investment. It's a huge opportunity. I hope Invest India can catalyse this," Mahindra's tweet read.
The German brand has collaborated with an Indian company, Iatric Industries Group, for shifting the manufacturing units in the Exports Promotion Industrial Park, Agra.
According to sources, close to 2,000 people have so far received employment in these units, and the company is slated to invest approximately Rs 300 crore in three projects in UP.
Von Wellx claims it will provide direct and indirect employment to close to 10,000 people. The units will produce a total of 50 lakh pairs of shoes annually.
This is a big achievement for the UP government, especially during the pandemic phase, since the whole process started just five months ago when the country was under the lockdown.
Meanwhile, the UP government has also taken a big leap in the Ease of Doing Business rankings among the states and is currently in the second position. Only Andhra Pradesh is ahead of UP in the list.
