Taiwanese footwear major Hong Fu Industrial Group marked its India entry on Monday with the ground breaking ceremony of a Rs 1,500-crore ($177 million)manufacturing facility at the SIPCOT Industrial Park in Panapakkam, 85 kms from Chennai.
The global footwear manufacturer — a supplier to the likes of Nike, Converse, Vans, UGG, Puma, adidas, Reebok, HOKA, Under Armour, and ON (Roger Federer-backed Swiss sportswear brand) — has made the investment to establish a domestic manufacturing unit of non-leather footwear and athletic footwear products.
The investment is set to create over 25,000 jobs, offering a livelihood opportunity for rural women.
Hong Fu chose Tamil Nadu due to its favourable business climate and potential for growth. The new facility is expected to be operational by early 2026.
This significant investment underscores India’s growing importance as a manufacturing hub and highlights the Tamil Nadu government’s efforts to attract foreign investment and promote job creation in the state.
Hong Fu chairman TY Chang said that India’s increasing global presence and growing economic development was what attracted this investment and made it a “natural choice”.
“With operations across Hong Kong, Taiwan, Vietnam, Indonesia, Myanmar, and other countries, India’s rapid economic development and growing global influence made it a natural choice for Hong Fu’s latest investment,” said Chang, a pioneer in the Taiwanese footwear industry. His son, Jacky Chang, director and chief executive officer of Hong Fu, shared his optimism for the project’s success and expressed gratitude to the Tamil Nadu government and the Centre for their unwavering support.
Joint venture partner and project stakeholder, Aqeel Panaruna, said that the unit establishment is not only aimed at “world-class footwear manufacturing”, but also at creating higher job opportunities and uplift communities, resulting in an “inclusive development”.
Hong Fu, the world’s second-largest manufacturer of non-leather athletic footwear, produces around 200 million pairs of sports shoes every year, generating a revenue worth $3 billion. It has supplied for brands including Reebok, HOKA, Under Armour, Nike, Converse, Vans, UGG, Puma, Adidas, and ON (a Swiss sportswear brand). The group operates in countries across the world like Hong Kong, Taiwan, Vietnam, Indonesia, Myanmar, among others.
