Vietnam’s footwear makers push to fulfil UAE’s needs
Footwear exports from Vietnam to the United Arab Emirates has been increasing by 55% annually for the “past few years”, according to Lefaso, the Vietnam Leather and Footwear Association.
A Vietnamese delegation attended the recent Dubai Footwear Expo 2014, hosting a conference aimed at increasing exports to a region which only has seven footwear factories producing 250,000 pairs a year, mainly sandals, said Lefaso.
Footwear imports into UAE reached a value of $295 million in 2013, and demand is expected to grow at around 5% a year to $372 million by 2018.
China remains the top footwear exporter with 65%, and most of the region’s leather shoes come from Italy, but Vietnam’s contribution is growing.
Lefaso said of the fair, to which Vietnamese shoe manufacturers travelled: “Many businesses met potential customers, but the most important thing now is understanding the needs and requirements of quality, taste, consumer trends and import and export regulations of the UAE.”
