Kothari Industrial Corporation Ltd, a diversified conglomerate, is set to invest Rs 7,300 crore over the next two to three years, with a focus on its fertiliser and footwear businesses in Tamil Nadu. Kothari Industrial Corporation Ltd (KICL) is set to make a significant investment in Tamil Nadu, establishing a fertilizer production unit at an estimated cost of Rs 1,300 crore.
Additionally, under Phoenix Kothari Footwear Ltd, the company plans to set up footwear manufacturing units in Karur and Eraiyur (Kallakurichi district) with an investment of Rs 6,000 crore. A dedicated industrial park for footwear and ancillary industries is also being planned in southern Tamil Nadu to boost manufacturing and employment opportunities in the region.
J Rafiq Ahmed, the newly appointed Executive Chairman of KICL, stated that the fertilizer plant aligns with the Make in India initiative by reducing dependency on imported fertilizers and raw materials like gas and ammonia. The investment proposal is backed by Qatar-based F J Global and Investment, owned by Falah Jassim J M Al Thani, a member of Qatar’s royal family and a founding member of Doha Bank. Plans for the fertilizer unit will be discussed with top Tamil Nadu government officials in the coming weeks, with land for the facility already identified.
In the footwear segment, Phoenix Kothari Footwear Ltd, a joint venture between KICL and Taiwan-based ShoeTown Group, will expand its footprint in Tamil Nadu. The company currently manufactures Crocs at its Perambalur facility and has partnered with Ron Chang, Chairman of ShoeTown Group, for footwear production in India.
The upcoming factories in Karur and Eraiyur will significantly enhance manufacturing capacity, with a projected production of 100 million pairs of footwear by 2027 and the creation of 57,000 jobs. The company is also in talks with a global footwear brand for a potential MoU signing later this month.
Beyond footwear and fertilizers, KICL is diversifying into drone technology with plans to establish a drone training school in Tamil Nadu. Ahmed emphasized that the sector holds immense potential, particularly in industrial applications, and noted that China has already embraced drone operations led by women.
The proposed school will train students in drone operations and production, supporting India’s growing drone ecosystem. The company has already applied for drone manufacturing approval, reinforcing its commitment to technological innovation and skill development.
