Kazakhstan's Footwear Production Rises 27% as Local Brands Expand Online

The range of Kazakhstan-made products available on Kaspi.kz is growing every year, 24KZ reports. Thanks to the country’s largest domestic marketplace, local manufacturers are reaching customers across Kazakhstan.

Footwear producers are particularly busy ahead of the winter season. Kazakh-made shoes are adapted to local weather conditions and can compete with imported products in both price and quality. Footwear in Kazakhstan is produced by both large factories and small workshops, each with its own designs, technologies and approach. However, they share one thing: Kaspi.kz helps them reach customers. At a factory in Taraz, Kazakh footwear is produced step by step, from the sole to the finished product, using only natural leather and wool. The first pair of shoes rolled off the production line 65 years ago. Following a major renovation, the enterprise now operates modern equipment. It employs 250 people and has the capacity to produce up to half a million pairs of shoes annually.

Asan Absalimov, Retail Director at TarazKozObuv LLP:

- We want Kazakhstanis to wear quality footwear at affordable prices. Kaspi gives us access to customers across all regions.

From large-scale factories to small manufacturers, businesses are reaching new markets through cooperation with Kaspi. This is how Boros, an Almaty footwear brand with a 25-year history, became known across the country. Its handcrafted products have won over Kazakh customers, and the workshop now produces up to 450 pairs of shoes a month by hand.

Igor Os'mushko, Director of Boros Shoes:

- All our footwear is made from the highest-quality natural leather. From the very beginning, we built our business around Kaspi as our main sales channel. We did not want to expand into large showrooms or pay rent for retail space. That is why we are able to keep our prices competitive.

Meanwhile, a workshop in Karaganda produces timeless footwear using locally sourced materials. More than 60% of the leather used is made in Kazakhstan. The shoes have also found buyers abroad, with orders coming from Germany, Norway and the United States. Cooperation with Kaspi has helped the small Karaganda-based brand gain the trust of Kazakh consumers.

Nikita Dorosh, Founder of Neyches Boots:

- Of course, we are on Kaspi Shop. It helps us tremendously and brings in additional sales. Kaspi acts as a guarantor: the store does not receive the money until the customer gets the product.

Since the beginning of the year, footwear production in Kazakhstan has increased by 27%. However, only around 7% of all shoes sold in the country are currently domestically produced. Manufacturers hope to increase this share further, including through online sales. Kaspi.kz is helping them achieve that goal. Kazakh footwear has several advantages: it is designed for the local climate and comes with a quality guarantee. Every pair sold also represents an opportunity to create new jobs and develop domestic manufacturing.

Author: Albina Kumar galiya