Tunisia's National Leather and Footwear Centre (CNCC) joined forces with the government’s industry and technology ministry to host a Euro-Mediterranean innovation forum on June 21-22.

The event was held at the headquarters of the Tunisian Trade, Industry and Handicrafts Union (UTICA) and its theme was ‘Enlightenment and Emotions in the Mediterranean’.

Other organisations involved in organising the event were the European Confederation of the Footwear industry (CTC, France), the Technological Institute for Footwear and Related Products (INESCOP, Spain) and the Association of Manufacturers of Footwear, Leathergoods and Tanning Machines (ASSOMAC, Italy).

According to the Tunisian Press Agency, the country’s leather and footwear exports rose 13.1% year-on-year during the first five months of 2010. The value of its leather and footwear exports totalled 381.8 million dinars ($252 million) during the five-month period. Footwear exports grew 19.5% to234.6 million dinars, accounting for 61.4% of the sector’s total exports.

Italy, France and Germany were the destinations for 89.3% of Tunisian leather and footwear exports, with a 48.7%, 29.2% and 11.4% share, respectively.

Leather and footwear imports rose 11.2% during the five-month period and primarily came from the same three European countries as well as China and India. Italy supplies 53% of Tunisia’s leather imports totalling 135 million dinars.