LUCKNOW: In a major boost to industrial activities in the state despite Covid-induced lockdown, Von Wellx, a German shoe brand operating earlier from China, operationalized two shoe making units in Agra on Tuesday.
The company, which is collaborating with Iatric Industries Pvt Ltd, had announced in May that it would be shifting its entire production of three millions pairs of shoes from China to India.
Ashish Jain, CEO of the Iatric Industries Group, said that the units, being set up in the Export Promotion Industrial Park, would produce 2.5 million pairs across different segments annually and employ about 2,000 people.
“It will exemplify the synergy of German technology and demographic dividend of Uttar Pradesh. Iatric Industries will be the exclusive collaborator for technology transfer, research, development, marketing and production,” he said.
A new factory is also expected to be set up near Jewar in an area of 10,000 sq m while another manufacturing unit is proposed to be set up in an area of 7.5 acres at Kosi-Kotwan, Mathura.
While inaugurating the units, additional chief secretary (industrial development) Alok Kumar said that Von Wellx would be investing around Rs 300 crore in phases in three projects. This would generate about 10,000 jobs while the units would produce up to 5 million pairs of footwear annually.
“The vision of chief minister Yogi Adityanath of turning crisis into opportunity has started generating results in building an ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’. It is an important milestone in the post Covid-19 era that an investment proposal has materialized within a short span of five months,” he said.
Kumar added that the state government had brought in several industrial reforms during the Covid-19 lockdown to give a boost to industries. “The new integrated investment and facilitation agency, ‘Invest UP’ is headed by the CM and ministers of Industrial Development and MSME are its vice chairpersons. The steering committee of the new agency is headed by the Infrastructure and Industrial Development Commissioner. As a team, we are working to ensure complete support to entrepreneurs who may face challenges but we are working within the ambit of state policies to resolve all matters,” he said.