How Russian army is marching in ‘Made in Bihar’ boots

As the Russian army advances across the vast expanses of Ukraine, a surprising export from India supports their every step: specialised military boots.

Crafted in Bihar’s Hajipur, a bustling city known for its agricultural products, the ‘Made in Bihar’ boots have been the Russian army’s top choice.

Hajipur, Bihar’s second-fastest-developing city after Patna, in recent years, has been gaining international recognition for its footwear manufacturing prowess.

Competence Exports, a private company based in Hajipur, is producing these in-demand boots. The company is not only manufacturing safety boots for the Russians but is also planning to launch designer shoes tailored for European markets.

The manufacturer’s general manager Shib Kumar Roy told ANI, “We started the Hajipur facility in 2018 with the primary goal of generating local employment. Here, we manufacture safety shoes for export to Russia. We are also gradually expanding to Europe and plan to launch in the domestic market soon.”

Here’s how the local show manufacturer became a ‘good fit’ for the Russian military

The rising footprint

The boots made by Competence Exports are designed to meet the tough needs of the Russian military. Speaking about the safety shoes’ specialised features, Shib Kumar Roy said, “The shoes should be lightweight, slip-resistant, have special features in the sole, and withstand extreme weather conditions like -40 degree Celsius. We manufacture the safety shoes, considering these conditions.”

The response has been tremendous, and the company has become one of the largest exporters to Russia. They exported 1.5 million pairs last year, which is worth Rs 100 crore, and their aim is to increase it by 50 per cent next year, ANI reported.

India and Russia share a long history of trade relations, encompassing a diverse range of goods from pharmaceuticals to machinery. With the use of these Bihar-made boots, the partnership is even strengthening India’s goal of manufacturing defence goods.

At present, the bilateral trade stands at about $67 billion. During PM Modi’s recent Moscow visit, India said it is eyeing to boost its exports to Russia through various sectors. Both nations have set an ambitious target of achieving $100 billion in annual trade volume by 2030 and are working towards developing a robust bilateral payment settlement mechanism using their national currencies.

Boost for locals

One of the ambitions of the company’s MD Danesh Prasad, is to make a “world-class factory in Bihar” and contribute to the state employment, Roy told ANI.

“We are trying our best to give maximum employment to employees,” Roy further said, highlighting another significant aspect of its workforce, where 70 percent of the 300 employees are women.

While the Bihar government has supported and promoted the industrial sector, Roy noted the need for further improvements. He points out that the government needs to make headway in developing infrastructure such as roads and communication so that buyers from Russia can communicate easily.

“We also want ready-skilled manpower, and for that, a training institute should be set up so that we get skill-ready manpower, otherwise, we have to train the workers before inducting them,” he added.

A survey conducted by officials in 2022 found that 143 skill development centres in Bihar, imparting training to youths under the state government’s Kushal Yuva programme (KYP), were non-functional, or ones that were working did not have the necessary trainers or human resources personnel to meet the required parameters.

Expanding horizons

In addition to their well-established line of safety shoes for Russians, Competence Exports has made a significant move into the luxury footwear market. The company is now exporting designer shoes to high-end markets in Italy, France, Spain, and the UK.

Mazhar Pallumiah, head of fashion development and marketing for the company, said, “We aim to develop high-end shoes for international brands. We recently started negotiations with a Belgian company as well”.

Pallumiah did note that initially, foreign companies had reservations about the quality and craftsmanship of shoes. However, once they received the samples, their concerns were alleviated. We are also expecting some companies to visit the factory next month, he said.

The growth potential of India’s leather and footwear industry is immense. According to a vision document released by the Council for Leather Exports (CLE), the industry is projected to grow from its current $17.3 billion to $47 billion by 2030. Exports are expected to more than double, reaching $13.7 billion over the next six years.

Despite facing initial challenges, such as infrastructure limitations, the company remains optimistic about its prospects. Pallumiah noted, “Starting the fashion industry is a challenge in Bihar and Hajipur, but with the vision of promoters and government support, we are confident to continue on this line.”

With input from agencies