Al Hida'a opens today

The exhibition will be inaugurated by H.H. Sheikh Tariq Bin Faisal Al-Qasimi, Head of the Department of Economic Development and Chairman of the Free Zone Area Council in the presence of a high ranking delegation from Thailand and senior officials from the Expo Centre Sharjah.

Now in its tenth edition and growing from strength to strength, Al Hida'a will feature national pavilions from the Thai Leather Goods Association - Department of Export Promotion, Thailand and the Council for Leather Exports, India. It will also bring together companies from Iran, India, Korea, Pakistan, Thailand and UAE.

The current edition will showcase the international leather industry's latest trends, designs and options in finished leather products, as well as in materials, accessories and processes; embodying great new ideas and opportunities for businesses in the Middle East region.

Featuring the entire range of footwear, finished leather products, tanned leather products, tanned leather, components and accessories, the show profile will include shoes, boots, slippers, sandals, wallets, briefcases, travel-ware garments, gloves, shoe uppers, footwear components, shoe making components & materials, metal accessories for leather goods & shoes, part processed & finished leather, miscellaneous leather products, pvc coated synthetic leather, ladies bags, portfolio bags and pouches.

The AGCC market for footwear and leather goods is estimated to be around US$1 billion, of which the footwear market in the UAE alone is worth more than US$ 300 million a year. As per an independent survey, the estimated demand for leather footwear in the UAE is 4 pairs per annum for expatriates and 6 pairs per annum for UAE nationals.

The show will be open for trade, from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm and 4:30 pm to 9:30 pm everyday from 27 to 30 September, 2003.