Japanese firms boost sports shoe production in VN

After the launch of full-scale production at a partner factory in Hồ Chí Minh City, Mizuno aims to make 1 million pairs in the Southeast Asian nation in fiscal year 2007, which will end March 31, 2008. The company plans to add one more partner factory in Việt Nam as early as next year.

Mizuno intends to raise its total shoes sales for fiscal year 2010 to 15 million pairs, a 50 percent increase from the figure projected for the current fiscal year.

The output from Việt Nam is expected to account for almost 30 percent of the projected sales, at about 4 million pairs.

"The attraction of Việt Nam as a production base is growing because labor costs are relatively low and infrastructure has been improving," a Mizuno official said.

Meanwhile, Asics has allocated around 6 million pairs, or 20 percent of its planned overall shoes output of roughly 33 million pairs for the current fiscal year, to two partner factories in Việt Nam.

By fiscal year 2010, Asics plans to make 30 percent of its shoes in Việt Nam.

(Source: VNA)