In February, the Portuguese industry returns to the epicentre of the footwear industry, Milan, in search of new business opportunities. Over the course of one week, 69 national companies will be present at MICAM (35 companies), Lineapelle (32 companies) and Mipel (one company).

In this new promotional offensive, which will result in a total of 53 initiatives abroad (compared to 28 in 2022 and 38 in 2023), the Portuguese industry aims to "attract new customers”, "increase exports”, "test new products” and "approach new markets”.

"This will be an important year for our business”, says Luís Onofre. "Our sector exports more than 90% of its production, and after a very difficult 2023 for the entire fashion industry at an international level, we expect 2024 to be a year of affirmation for Portuguese footwear in foreign markets”, stresses the President of APICCAPS.

The Portuguese delegation at MICAM, the sector’s most important professional trade fair, will comprise 35 companies (compared to 33 at last year’s edition). At Mipel, the sector will be represented by one exhibitor. Finally, at Lineapelle, there will be 32 companies from the footwear components and leather goods sectors, 14 of which will be footwear components, in an initiative organised by APICCAPS with the support of the Compete 2030 programme.

Last year, 2,000 brands presented their collections at Milan Fashion Week and the three fairs together welcomed 42 273 buyers from 192 countries (a 21% increase on the previous edition). According to the organisation, "the fairs revealed an increasing demand on the part of foreign buyers and confirmed the important role played by exports in strengthening the recovery of the footwear industry”. The figures show an increase in the number of visitors from Spain, France and Germany and, from outside the EU, the "long-awaited comeback from China and confirmations from Japan and North America”.