Global footwear majors evince keen interest in debut edition of Expo Riva Schuh Middle East to be held next year

With more than five months to go before the show, the exhibitor number is expected to easily cross the 200 mark.

Expo Riva Schuh Middle East will occupy a net exhibition area of 2,500 m2 and as of August '07 more than 75% of the exhibition space has already been booked.

A majority of the confirmed exhibitors for the first edition of Expo Riva Schuh are from Austria, Brazil, China, Egypt, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Italy, Pakistan, Portugal, Spain, Taiwan (ROC), Thailand, The Netherlands, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States and Vietnam

"The overwhelming response received so far from global footwear and leather accessories companies for the event is an indication of the industry's growing interest in the region's markets,"

said Mr. Fasahat Ali Khan, Advisor to the Chairman and Board of Directors of Expo Centre Sharjah.

"The Middle Eastern economies are at their peaks with consumer demand and consumption at all time highs. Along with other sectors, the Middle East footwear and leather accessories sector too is experiencing a massive boom. There is tremendous scope for further growth and I am confident that Expo Riva Schuh Middle East, which is the first event of its kind in the region, will be an ideal platform for global companies engaged in the trade to tap the market's unlimited potential," he said.

Within the Middle East, the GCC market for leather goods alone is valued at over USD $ 1 billion. The UAE footwear market is worth more than USD $ 300 million. According to global footwear industry estimates, the world footwear market is projected to reach 13.9 billion pairs corresponding to a value of USD $ 192.4 billion by 2010. Though Europe is one of the largest markets in terms of value, the coming years will witness the booming Asian region dominating the scene, industry sources say.

Mr. Fasahat Ali Khan further added: "The fact that the Middle East edition of Expo Riva Schuh is being jointly organised by Expo Centre Sharjah, which is a leading organiser of several highly successful trade shows in the region, and Riva del Garda FiereCongressi, organisers of Expo Riva Schuh, the already well established international trade event for volume footwear in Italy's Riva del Garda, has to a large extent been responsible for such a large number of global footwear majors reposing confidence and signing up for the debut edition of the show in the region."

Expo Riva Schuh is an international bi-annual trade show dedicated to the footwear industry and is hosted by Riva del Garda FiereCongressi in Riva del Garda, located in the Trentino province of Italy. The event represents one of the major international crossroads in footwear business for volume product in the medium-price bracket, with a retail sale price of between 75 and 100 euros.

The 68th edition of Expo Riva Schuh was held in Riva del Garda from June 16 to 19, 2007. The event, occupying an exhibition area of 32,000 m2, hosted more than 1,100 exhibitors from 32 countries and showcased the spring/summer collection for 2008. It attracted 10,200 visitors of which 62% were foreign buyers.

Expo Riva Schuh Middle East, besides being the region's largest showcase of footwear and leather accessories in the medium price bracket, will also act as a window to the latest technological developments taking place in the global footwear and leather accessories industry.

"Visitors to Expo Riva Schuh Middle East, which is the region's first international trade event dedicated to volume footwear business, will not be restricted from the Middle East region alone," said Mr. Saif Al Midfa, Director General of Expo Centre Sharjah.

"We also expect large visitor turnout from the North African countries and the CIS. The expectation of a significant visitor gathering from the entire MENA region and the CIS stems from the fact that the UAE, besides being a well established commercial hub, also enjoys a highly strategic geographical location providing access to several booming and lucrative markets,"

he said.

Mr. Saif Al Midfa further said: "Expo Riva Schuh Middle East, other than being the region's largest sourcing platform for medium priced footwear and leather accessories, will also provide ample networking opportunities between the exhibitors and top decision makers from the footwear and leather accessories sector in the region. Global footwear and leather accessories companies participating in the event will be presented with several avenues to appoint dealers, distributors, and associates, considering that it is for the first time in the Middle East that such a large number of key players from the footwear and leather accessories industry will be gathering under one roof."

Expo Riva Schuh Middle East will be open to trade visitors only. The event is a joint initiative of Expo Centre Sharjah and Riva del Garda FiereCongressi with the support of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry.