Vaishali (Bihar): Hajipur, the second-fastest-developing city next to Patna in Bihar, is establishing a name for itself overseas by manufacturing footwear such as safety shoes for the Russian army and designer shoes catering to European markets.
Hajipur-based Competence Exports, a private limited company, makes safety shoes for companies based in Russia.
Speaking about the facility, General Manager Shib Kumar Roy, "We started the Hajipur facility in 2018, and the main interest is to generate local employment.
At Hajipur, we make safety shoes that are meant to be exported to Russia. Total exports are for Russia, and we are also slowly working on Europe and will launch in the domestic market soon."
Talking about safety shoe requirements for the Russian army, Roy said, "Their requirements are that shoes should be lightweight, slip-resistant, have special features in the sole, and withstand extreme weather conditions like -40 degrees Celsius.
We manufacture the safety shoes, considering these conditions."
The response has been tremendous, and his company is one of the largest exporters to Russia. Expectations are that the numbers will expand day by day.