More manufacturers sign up for `Shoe City of West China`
The 2nd West China Shoe Expo, sponsored by the China Light Industry Federation , China Leather Industry Association and Chongqi municipal government, was held in Bishan County, May 18-20. According to the China Leather Industry Information Center (CLIIC), following their attendance at the show, around 30 shoe enterprises have signalled their intention to set up production facilities in Bishan County, their combined investment being $242 million.
Over 330 shoe-making enterprises participated in the expo and on the first day, six enterprises signed up for the production facilities.
On the same day, Aokang shoe group showed the first leather shoe from its newly-completed production facility in West China Shoe Industry Zone, the largest shoe production zone in West China so far. Hongqingting shoe group, another shoe giant in China, also announced plans for a 200 million yuan ($24.2 million) factory with a yearly output of five million pairs of leather shoes.
With the boom in its shoe output and the Chinese government’s strategy of establishing a major shoe production centre in the West of the country, Bishan County is growing quickly and is now regarded as the “Shoe City of West China.” It is estimated that it will be producing over 100 million pairs worth $730 million by the end of 2005.
