Tamil Nadu Taiwan partnership boosts nonwoven and footwear sector

As part of the Tamil Nadu–Taiwan Technical Textile Partnership Summit, a business delegation from the Taiwan Nonwoven Fabrics Industry Association is visiting India from March 27 to 31, 2026, to explore collaboration opportunities in the textile and footwear sectors.
The CII Tamil Nadu State Textile Panel organised exclusive B2B meetings facilitating interactions between the delegation and leading industry stakeholders from the State.
The initiative aimed at promoting joint ventures and technical collaborations in nonwoven textiles, automotive applications and non-leather footwear manufacturing.
G R Gopikumar, Convenor, CII Tamil Nadu Textile Panel, said Tamil Nadu holds a dominant position in the automotive and leather sectors, contributing 35 to 40 per cent of India’s footwear manufacturing and nearly 45 per cent of exports.
He pointed out that while the current leather to non-leather footwear ratio stands at 90:10, the growing global demand for non-leather alternatives presents a significant opportunity for expansion.
The visiting delegation is focusing on exploring opportunities in the automotive and non-leather footwear segments and assessing the feasibility of establishing a complete value chain ecosystem in Tamil Nadu, ranging from fibre and nonwoven materials to finished products.
The members expressed keen interest in setting up manufacturing facilities through joint ventures with Indian partners, recognising the potential of the domestic footwear market.
The delegation comprises leading companies including Shinih Enterprise Co Ltd, Taiwan Kureha Co Ltd, Nu Cotton International Co Ltd, Hsinnjy Industrial Co Ltd, Zhejiang Boretch Environmental Engineering Co Ltd and Always Champion Enterprise Co Ltd, specialising in nonwoven materials, recycled fibres, automotive components, footwear reinforcement and sustainable textile technologies.
More than 60 industries participated in the B2B meetings.
The engagement is expected to strengthen Tamil Nadu’s position in the global textile value chain, accelerate the growth of the nonwoven ecosystem, enhance value addition and boost exports, particularly in the emerging non-leather footwear segment.