Ecuador: minister says shoe companies should seek - footwearbiz: Lead

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Ecuador: minister says shoe companies should seek alternatives to leather

22/07/2015
An Ecuadorean governent minister, Ricardo Zambrano, has surprised the country’s footwear manufacturers by telling them just to use “whatever raw material is available” if local leather is too expensive.

Asked what the government intended to do to help Ecuador’s shoe manufacturers address the issue of what footwear industry leaders insist is the most expensive leather in the region, the minister said: “Leather isn’t the only raw material shoe manufacturers can use. We would like them to diversify and use other raw materials, such as textiles. We can help footwear companies by keeping them informed of what alternative materials are available.”

Mr Zambrano, who is a minister in the department of industry, said there was nothing the government could do about the price of leather. “It’s a market thing,” he said. “Supply and demand are what determine the price.”


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