Region's first footwear show to be held in Sharjah

To be held from February 17 to 19 at Expo Centre Sharjah, the show will focus on high volume, low to medium and medium to high-priced footwear collection, leather products, travelware, handbags and fashion accessories from countries across the world.

'That around 250 manufacturers and brands from 20 countries are heading to Sharjah with the best of their products is enough proof of the industry's growing interest in the Middle East,' said Mr. Saeed Obaid Al Jarwan, Director General, Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

'We can assure you that the organizers have left no stone unturned in their efforts to make this launch edition of the show a tremendous success and set the tone for the editions to come. Expo Riva Schuh is a trade show of international repute hosted by Riva del Garda FiereCongressi in Riva del Garda in Italy. We are associating with Riva del Garda FiereCongressi to gain from their expertise in introducing the show to the Middle East,' said Mr.Jarwan.

The exhibition will be held at all the four halls of Expo Centre Sharjah. Halls I and III will be dedicated to manufacturers from Europe. The countries that will exhibit their top-of-the-range products from Europe include Austria, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Romania, Spain and the United Kingdom.

High-end products from European manufacturers will have a special showcase in the form of 'Top Style', which will be held at Hall I.

More than 34 companies that focus on classical and high-fashion footwear and leather products will be coming from Italy, including the biggest group from the Marche region, which produces the largest number of shoes in the country.

Ms Brigitta Bancher, Director of International Sales at Riva del Garda Fiere Congressi, said: 'Each country will have its own dedicated pavilion with the layout grouping exhibitors according to their product range. The European pavilion will host the Top Style section for high-end products.'

Expo Riva Schuh Middle East will also provide ample networking opportunities for exhibitors and top decision-makers from the footwear industry. 'There will also be a special event held on day two of the exhibition in which manufacturers will have the chance to learn more about market conditions in the region,' she added.

Innovative designs and products from Asia and the region will be on display at Halls II and IV. Manufacturers who will be taking part include those from China, Egypt, India, Iran, Malaysia, Pakistan, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Syria and the UAE.

Brazil, meanwhile, will be represented through the association of Brazilian footwear, Abicalcados. About 16 leading brands known for their quality and innovative style are set to hog the limelight at the show and help attract special attention to products from the country, which produces 770 million pairs of shoes annually and exports about
212 million of them.

'Sharjah has several firsts to its credit. Expo Riva Schuh Middle East will be another feather in the cap of the emirate's and Expo Centre's achievement since it will be the first specialised trade event for the footwear industry in the whole region,' said Mr. Fasahat Ali Khan, Advisor to the Chairman and Board of Directors of Expo Centre Sharjah.

'The economy here is on an upswing. If the corporate results for the year 2007 released recently are any indications, the talk of an impending recession in the United States and Japan and the effects of the sub-prime mortgage crisis have had nothing or little impact on our economy in particular and the region in general. This has helped maintain high consumer confidence, boosting demand for products and services across the markets,' he said.

'The exhibition will be an unparalleled platform for global companies to tap into our booming regional markets. For the local companies it will offer a unique opportunity to source the best products. The show will also be a window to the latest technological developments taking place in the global footwear and leather accessories industry,' Mr. Khan added.

Footwear and leather products that will be on display include shoes, boots, slippers, sandals, wallets, briefcases, travel-ware, gloves, shoe uppers, footwear components, shoe making components and materials, metal accessories for leather goods and shoes, part-processed and finished leather, miscellaneous leather products, pvc coated synthetic leather, ladies bags, portfolio bags and pouches.

'We aim to create an international fair that reflects the needs of the Middle East market, where the biggest demand comes from the medium and low market segments, but with interesting opportunities for the higher brackets also,' pointed out Ms Brigitta Bancher.

Expo Riva Schuh Middle East will be open to trade visitors only.