S Korea firm to set up ₹1.7K-cr footwear unit in Nellai

SOUTH Korea's Hwaseung Enterprises is set to invest ₹1,720 crore in a large-scale non-leather footwear manufacturing facility at Gangaikondan in Tirunelveli district, marking the company's first production base in India and a major addition to the state's export-oriented manufacturing portfolio.

- C SHIVAKUMAR @ Chennai

The proposed unit, expected to generate around 20,000 direct jobs, will be among the largest employment-generating footwear projects in the state. The company will sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Tamil Nadu government in this regard on Monday at the inaugural edition of the state's new regional investment initiative 'TN Rising' in Thoothukudi, sources said.

Hwaseung, a key supplier to global brands such as Adidas, currently operates facilities in Vietnam, Indonesia, and China. Its expansion into Tamil Nadu reflects a shift towards diversified geographies and sustainable material use in manufacturing. The project is also seen as a key milestone in the state's effort to position itself as a global hub for non-leather footwear production.