By MAIMBOLWA MULIKELELA –
MALAR Industries Limited is seeking an investor to revive its leather footwear manufacturing plant at a cost of K5.5 million.
Malar Industries used to manufacture and supply various leather footwear products and finished leather to the mining sector and other parts of the country.
Managing director Subramania Balakrishnan said his company was looking for an investor that would buy off the manufacturing company with a view to reviving it.
Speaking in an interview in Ndola yesterday, Mr Balakrishnan said the firm used to operate a tannery plant in Kabwe and manufactured protective and commercial leather footwear products in Ndola before
the company ceased as a result of financial difficulties.
“We stopped operating in 2011 because we had faced some financial challenges. We are now looking for an investor to come and buy off the entire operations at a cost of K5.5 million,” he said.
Mr Balakrishnan said the leather industry has a huge potential to significantly contribute to the development of the country.
He said Malar had installed capacity to produce 3,000 pairs of shoes per day and also exported leather to regional and international markets.
The firm employed close to 300 people and used to generate about K1 million a month from its 13 outlets.
