South Korean Hwaseung to Build First Footwear Plant in Tamil Nadu

South Korea’s Hwaseung Footwear Group has committed Rs 1,720 crore to establish its first non-leather footwear manufacturing unit in India, located in Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu, announced Industries Minister TRB Rajaa. The facility, a landmark investment for the state, is projected to create 20,000 direct jobs, positioning it as one of Tamil Nadu’s largest employment-generating footwear projects, Rajaa said in a social media post on X late Friday, August 22, 2025.

The announcement follows a meeting between Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and Hwaseung’s senior executives at the Secretariat in Chennai, signaling the state’s push to ground Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) signed during the TN Rising Investors Conclave held in Tuticorin on August 4, 2025. The conclave secured 41 MoUs worth Rs 32,553.85 crore, expected to generate 49,845 jobs across the state, as reported by The Hindu. Rajaa noted that 77% of MoUs signed since 2021, totaling Rs 10.32 lakh crore in investments, have been converted into tangible projects, reflecting Tamil Nadu’s investor-friendly policies.

The Hwaseung plant, to be located in Gangaikondan near Tirunelveli, aligns with Tamil Nadu’s ambition to become a global hub for non-leather footwear, following its 2022 Footwear and Leather Products Policy. This policy has attracted major players like Taiwan’s Pou Chen (Rs 2,302 crore, 20,000 jobs) and Hong Fu (Rs 1,500 crore, 20,000 jobs), as per posts on X. Hwaseung, a key supplier to brands like Adidas, will bolster Tamil Nadu’s 48% share in India’s footwear exports, as noted in The Print. The facility is expected to produce athletic and casual footwear, enhancing the state’s role in the global supply chain.

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Rajaa expressed optimism, stating, “Many more MoUs will soon translate into jobs, driving inclusive growth across Tamil Nadu.” The state’s infrastructure, skilled workforce, and proactive policies continue to draw foreign investment, with Tuticorin emerging as a key industrial hub alongside projects like VinFast’s electric vehicle plant and Royal Golden Eagle’s Rs 4,953 crore fibre facility.

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