The director of the China Leather Industry Association (CLIA), Mr. Xu Yong, has predicted that China’s middle and lower-end footwear industry will shift to the west of the country over the next three to five years.

Already, six manufacturers from Wenzhou with annual production values exceeding Y100 million ($859,726) have relocated to Chongqing City in Bishan.

Shenda and Doublestar are planning to set up factories in western provinces, such as Sichuan, Inner Mongolia and Ganshu and utilise the abundance of skins produced in the area, as well as the cheap labour force.

Yong added that eastern cities, such as Zhejiang and Fujiang will be the key production areas and distribution centres for high grade products.

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