Industrial action and Ukraine crisis affect Micam
10/03/2014
In a frank statement, Cleto Sagripanti, president of the national footwear manufacturers’ association, Assocalzaturifici, expressed dismay that trade unions had called for a public transport strike on the first day of the event, March 3. He said actions like this made him wonder if Italy “really is a normal country, proud of its work and its achievement of excellence”. He also said it cast doubt on host city Milan’s ability to host global event Expo 2015 next year.
Micam closed with an attendance figure of 33,372, including 17,606 international visitors. Compared to the March 2013 edition of the event, these figures represent falls of 5.7% and 8.2% respectively. The number of visitors from Russia and surrounding countries was “much lower than usual”, Assocalzaturifici said, adding that the current crisis in the Ukraine and unfavourable exchange rates had contributed to this.
But Mr Sagripanti said the response from potential footwear buyers from the Far East and from North America had been been more positive and insisted he was already looking forward to the next edition of Micam, which will take place at a new time of year, August 31- September 3, 2014.
Share this story:
