ACICAM concerned about Colombia’s relationship with Venezuela
According to Colombia's industry association for leather and footwear (ACICAM), the country’s leathergoods exports to many key markets rose during the first five months of the year. Exports to the US grew 30%, while exports to Peru rose 290%, exports to Chile increased by 35% and exports to Ecuador were up 45%.
However, the association’s board director, Leslie Stipek Alvarez, said the country’s strained relations with Venezuela had seen leathergoods exports to the neighbouring country fall from 70% of the sector’s total exports to just 10%. As a result, he said at the opening of the country’s 22nd International Footwear and Leather Show that the domestic market seems to be the only safe and reliable market for Colombian shoe and leathergoods manufacturers for the time being. He cited uncertainty in overseas markets and the appreciation of the peso as reasons for this.
Around 410 exhibitors attended the Bogotá show, which ran August 3-6.
