CKL finding their feet with increased shoe exports
CKL finding their feet with increased shoe exports
CKL Co., Ltd. plans to increase production capacity from 8,000 to 20,000 shoes per week at its factory in Xiengda village, Xaysettha district, Vientiane to boost exports.
The plan was revealed during a visit by delegations from Thailand and Laos to CKL's shoe factory.
Director General of the Industry and Handicrafts Department under the Ministry of Industry and Commerce Mr Manohack Rasachack also attended.
Chairman of the CKL Shoe Group Executive Board, Mr Sumeth Kongpatanakul, said CKL Co., Ltd. was established in 2012 in Vangxai village, Xaysetttha district, Vientiane on a 3,200 square metre site. Initially, the company had 280 workers who produced shoe uppers for assembly by the CK-KK Shoe Company in Khon Kaen, Thailand for export.
In 2015, CKL expanded production by relocating to 23,000 square metres at Huakhua village, also in Xaysettha district, and increased the workforce to 330 people.
In the same year, CKL expanded shoe production further by establishing another factory in Xiengda village, on a 36,000 square metre site.
�This company had a production capacity of 8,000 shoes a week and we are increasing that aiming to produce 20,000 shoes a week at this factory,� Mr Sumeth explained.
Currently, the two factories employ a total of 955 Lao workers and have a production capacity of 8,500 shoes a week and 24,000 shoe uppers a week.
CKL produces the Dr Martens brand name and stamps the shoes as �Made in Laos� which the company exports mainly to European countries such as the United Kingdom as well as the United States.
�We on behalf of workers and the company are very proud to produce Dr Martens in Laos which is a well-known shoe brand around the world. This shows that Laos has skilled workers compared to other countries,� Mr Sumeth said.
Mr Manohack stressed that CKL's investment had significantly contributed to local socio-economic development by creating jobs and generating revenue.
