Work Safety Footwear Industry Targets Overseas Markets to Accelerate Corporate Transformation and Upgrading
Recently, a reporter learned from Shenghao Footwear Co., Ltd. that despite the current grim international economic situation, as an export-oriented work safety footwear manufacturer, Shenghao has firmly maintained its position in the international military footwear market and continues to receive a steady stream of orders. In the military boot production workshop, the reporter observed workers bustling along the production lines, working overtime to fulfill orders.
“Industrial transformation and upgrading is a tough battle, but it is also the key breakthrough for achieving dual improvements in development speed and quality-driven efficiency. The task is complex and arduous, so we must prioritize key areas and advance steadily," explained a representative from the Gaomi City Work Safety Footwear Industry Association to the reporter.
Taking the formulation of the 13th Five-Year Plan as an opportunity, Gaomi City has scientifically developed medium- and long-term industrial development plans. These plans clearly define the goals, tasks, support policies, and safeguard mechanisms for the occupational safety footwear industry, guiding the rational allocation of production factors and resources—including capital, talent, technology, and information—while continuously improving the industrial chain and fostering highly competitive industrial clusters. Currently, the work safety footwear industry is focusing on strengthening five major product series, including safety footwear, and accelerating the establishment and improvement of three alliances (the Work Safety Gloves Industry Innovation Alliance, the Footwear Industry Innovation Alliance, and the Credit Alliance). planning and constructing the “Three Parks, One Sector, and One Center" (Haiyu Footwear Industrial Park, Provincial Safety Protection Products Demonstration Park, Leather Processing Industrial Park, Footwear Ecological Economy Sector, and Work Safety Footwear Trade Center) to establish the nation’s largest production base for work safety products and a renowned distribution hub for finished footwear. By clarifying functional positioning, spatial layout, and development goals—and integrating these with the city’s master plan and industrial cluster development plans—the city will guide the work safety footwear industry toward key industrial clusters to further expand and strengthen the sector.
Deepen efforts to advance toward the high end of the industry. Guided by the principle of “promoting progress through transformation," the city will intensify the campaign for industrial restructuring and transformation, driving the industry to accelerate its move toward the mid-to-high end of the industrial and value chains. Enhance the independent innovation capabilities of footwear enterprises. Place innovation at the core of development, promoting full-process, all-staff innovation in areas such as branding, management, and marketing. Strengthen the reserve of talent and scientific resources. Implement talent development strategies in all work safety footwear enterprises, establish and improve talent cultivation mechanisms, and leverage platforms such as the “One Institute, One Base" initiative of the China Academy of Machinery Science and Technology and the High-Tech Zone’s technology incubators. Strengthen cooperation with universities and research institutes to vigorously cultivate technical and skilled talent and elevate the overall quality of the industry’s workforce; Leverage the leading role of enterprises to accelerate the establishment of industrial technology innovation strategic alliances and the implementation of the “Hundred Talents Gathering" initiative. Through investment and entrepreneurship, hiring, part-time arrangements, and technical cooperation, vigorously attract “migratory" talent—such as influential and accomplished experts and professors—as well as creative, innovative, and managerial talent within the industry, thereby providing robust talent support for the transformation and upgrading of the work safety footwear sector. Expand opening-up to drive transformation. In line with the major trend of global economic integration and the new characteristics and changes in opening up, deepen high-level international cooperation; actively implement the “Going Global" strategy" by establishing overseas R&D institutions, production bases, and marketing networks to continuously explore new markets. Gradually expand from trade cooperation to brand, technology, and capital cooperation, and move up the value chain from the low end to the high end to enhance product competitiveness.
