As the Russian Army continues its operation in Ukraine, the soldiers march on using ‘Made in Bihar’ boots manufactured in Hajipur.
Russian Army Marches On ‘Made In Bihar’ Boots
As the Russian Army continues its operation in Ukraine, the soldiers march on using ‘Made in Bihar’ boots manufactured in Hajipur. Bihar’s Hajipur city, known for its agricultural production, is writing its own story by manufacturing safety shoes for the Russian army, which has an acclaimed international presence.
Hajipur based Competence Exports, a private limited company, makes safety shoes for companies based in Russia and designer shoes catering to European markets. They also export luxury designer or fashion shoes to countries like Italy, France, Spain, and the UK. They exported 1.5 million pairs last year, which is worth Rs 100 crore, and their aim is to increase it by 50 percent next year.
Shib Kumar Roy, the company’s general manager, told ANI, “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.”
Defence Exports Touch Record Rs 21,083 crore in FY 2023-24
Defence exports have touched a record Rs 21,083 crore (approx. US$ 2.63 Billion) in the FY 2023-24, a growth of 32.5% over the last fiscal when the figure was Rs 15,920 crore. The recent figures indicate that the defence exports have grown by 31 times in the last 10 years as compared to FY 2013-14. Â
The defence Industry, including the private sector and Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs), have made tremendous efforts in achieving the highest-ever defence exports. The private sector and the DPSUs have contributed about 60% and 40% respectively. In addition, there has been a rise in the number of export authorisations issued to the defence exporters during FY 2023-24. From 1,414 export authorisations in FY 2022-23, the number jumped to 1,507 in FY 2023-24.
