Over 700 buyers pre-register for Sharjah Footwear Show

Preparations are in the final stages for the show, which will feature around 150 exhibitors and brands of leather goods and footwear in the low, medium and high-end brackets, representing 19 different countries.

The biggest participation will be coming from Italy for a second time around with 22 companies. This will be followed by China and India, respectively. Pakistan, too, will have a significant presence.

"Expo Riva Schuh Middle East 2009 will build on the huge success of the inaugural show in 2008 and is set to offer manufacturers, suppliers, distributors and traders a unique opportunity to take full advantage of the thriving markets in the region,"

said Mr Saif Mohammed Al Midfa, Director-General of Expo Centre Sharjah.

"If the high pre-registration is anything to go by, then the show is bound to be a huge success," he said.

"The consumer and business confidence in our region is still high. The regional governments are undertaking huge spending programmes and the retail sector is continuing to expand. The footwear and leather products sector is going to directly benefit from these prime market conditions," Mr Midfa said.

Expo Riva Schuh Middle East is modeled on its world-renowned parent show in Italy - Expo Riva Schuh.

"In association with its organiser Riva del Garda Fierecongressi, Expo Centre Sharjah will replicate the huge success of the Italian show here in the Middle East," said Mr Fasahat Ali Khan, Advisor to the Chairman and Board of Directors of Expo Centre Sharjah.

Considered as a benchmark for international trade fairs, the popularity of the show can be gauged from the fact that the Italian show has a waitlist of more than 300 for its next edition to be held in June 2009.

"Despite the general weakness of markets, due to negative repercussions from the international economy and the difficult situation faced by the whole of the Middle East, many companies have confirmed their trust in Expo Riva Schuh Middle East by investing in the business potential offered by this area," said the President of Riva del Garda Fierecongressi, Roberto Pellegrini.

"With Expo Riva Schuh Middle East, Riva del Garda Fierecongressi Spa and Expo Centre Sharjah have created a platform that aims to meet the growing needs of distribution and sales markets in the Middle East, offering a wide range of products, not just Italian, of shoes and accessories in leather," Pellegrini said.

"The event will allow companies to reach new markets, thanks to its location in the centre of an area surrounding no less than 24 countries in the Middle East and the former Soviet Republics," he added.

The exhibits at the show will be divided into non-European, Chinese and European pavilions. The latter will also house a Top Style Pavilion, dedicated to medium-high and high-end products said Brigitta Bancher, Expo Riva Schuh and internationalisation manager.

"While the greatest demand will come from the middle and low segments of the market, there will also be interesting opportunities for higher brackets," Bancher added.

A major highlight of the show will be country pavilions that will display designs and top brands from participants. Country pavilions this time include Brazil, Pakistan, India, Italy and Ethiopia.

Italian, Spanish and Portuguese manufacturers will dominate the Top Style Pavilion, where they will be displaying the latest European designs.

Footwear and leather products that will be on display include shoes, boots, slippers, sandals, wallets, briefcases, travel-ware, gloves, miscellaneous leather products, pvc-coated synthetic leather, ladies bags, portfolio bags and pouches.

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