Phoenix Kothari Footwear to Invest $1 Billion in Karur, Tamil Nadu, for Adidas Manufacturing Facility
Phoenix Kothari Footwear, a joint venture between Chennai-based Kothari Industrial Corporation Ltd (KICL) and Taiwan's Evervan Group, is set to commence production of Adidas footwear at its new manufacturing facility in Karur, Tamil Nadu, from July 10. The company plans to invest approximately $1 billion over the next five years.
The venture aims to manufacture around 100 million pairs of shoes during the period and create up to 50,000 jobs, with the Karur facility alone expected to generate 15,000 jobs in phases.
KICL is already exporting footwear for Crocs from its Perambalur facility, where it has invested around ₹5,000 crore. According to KICL Managing Director J. Rafiq Ahmed, the company is targeting a larger share of India's non-leather footwear exports as it scales up its manufacturing footprint.
The expansion is part of a broader trend of global footwear brands and suppliers deepening their sourcing base in Tamil Nadu. Several Taiwanese manufacturers among the world's largest producers of branded athletic footwear, including Pou Chen Group, Hong Fu Group, Feng Tay Group, Dean Shoes and Oasis Footwear, have established or expanded operations in the state to supply brands such as Nike, Adidas, Puma, New Balance and Reebok.
Industry investment in Tamil Nadu's non-leather footwear ecosystem has exceeded ₹12,000 crore in recent years, with additional projects under implementation. Tamil Nadu currently accounts for more than 32 per cent of India's footwear production and nearly 48 per cent of the country's footwear exports, valued at over $2 billion.