The Portuguese footwear and leather goods cluster, which exports more than 90% of its production to 174 countries on five continents, is looking to make a steady return to foreign markets. Since the beginning of the year, the sector has already participated in more than 30 promotional initiatives abroad.
Back in Milan, over 70 companies will take part in four major trade fairs for the footwear, leather goods and tanning sector cluster over the course of a week.
Footwear diversifies investments
The footwear and leather goods cluster is continuing its strategy of investment diversification. After 70 companies took part in the Valorisation of the Offer project last year, with a total investment of around 3 million euros, it is expected that this year a similar number of companies will invest in the promotion of their brands on international markets, specifically in the areas of Communication and Advertising Consultancy, Online Platform Membership, Digital Marketing or Production of Photographic and Multimedia Content. Investment will also continue in the Registration of Brands and Models and Websites and Online Stores.
For APICCAPS, after a year of strong restraint in 2023 and a year of transition in 2024, the footwear sector is looking ahead to 2025. "In the midst of a very demanding context, we want to gradually return to foreign markets”, explains Luís Onofre.
The Portuguese delegation at MICAM and MIPEL includes 39 companies (the fairs have been reduced from four to three days). At Lineapelle, the national delegation will include 30 companies, including footwear and tanning components. Finally, at SIMAC, four companies will present the first results of the FAIST mobilising project.
In the last edition, 45% of the 40,821 visitors to the Italian fair came from abroad, mainly from the EU, with France, Germany, and Spain leading the way. Outside the EU, it’s worth mentioning the positive results from Japan, China, Kazakhstan, and the UK.
The footwear and leather goods cluster is continuing its strategy of investment diversification. After 70 companies took part in the Valorisation of the Offer project last year, with a total investment of around 3 million euros, it is expected that this year a similar number of companies will invest in the promotion of their brands on international markets, specifically in the areas of Communication and Advertising Consultancy, Online Platform Membership, Digital Marketing or Production of Photographic and Multimedia Content. Investment will also continue in the Registration of Brands and Models and Websites and Online Stores.