RM100 million hi-tech ‘Shoe Park’ to come up by year-end

 The ‘footwear capital of Malaysia is to have a ‘Shoe Park’ providing necessary boost to the already prospering industry. However, the China factor weighs heavily in the minds that gets respite from the fact that this centralised hi-tech manufacturing hub would give the manufacturers the vital pluses that would provide the competitive edge.
The Selangor State Government is to relocate small-time shoemakers here to a hi-tech centralized manufacturing hub ‘Shoe Park''. To be built on a 30-acre land, the park would come up near the Technology Park Malaysia with construction to begin by the end of the year.

A committee, led by Seri Kembangan State Assemblyman Datuk Liew Yuen Keong, will oversee the project. Members include representatives from Serdang Shoe Manufacturers Association, Seri Kembangan village security and development committee and Selangor State Inc Corporation, a State Government-owned company.

To be built at the cost of about RM100 million, the park is expected to train shoemakers in the use of computer-aided design application to create new designs while developing their own brands.

The hub would also be fitted with the latest automated manufacturing equipment to increase production. About 20 per cent of Seri Kembangan''s population was involved in the shoe industry in some way or the other, making it worthy of improvement in stature and competitiveness.

 The footwear industry had about 1,030 footwear manufacturers employing a workforce of some 30,000 currently working in Malaysia, according to statistics put out by the Malaysian Industrial Development Authority.