‘First signs of recovery’ for Italian footwear
Representatives of the Italian footwear industry have asked the government for tax exemptions for producing samples in a bid to stave off competition from China.
Manufacturers association Assocalzaturifici also declared “the first signs of recovery” after a growing number of international visitors to the recent Micam footwear event in Milan.
Included in the 32,703 visitors was a “surprising” number from Russia.
Assocalzaturifici chair Annarita Pilotti said: ”We started out in a climate of uncertainty, with a number of difficult years behind us before 2015, in which, even though sales largely held their ground, the industry suffered the effects of a drop in domestic demand and shrinkage of a number of important foreign markets, such as Russia and the former CIS area.
“We like to think that the vitality so evident at the fair is the first sign of a recovery in 2016. Italian footwear companies employ 77,000 people, but are still on the defensive, and deserve more attention from the country's official institutions.
“This is why we are asking the government for tax exemptions for investment in production of samples. We will continue to fight to ensure that Europe does not grant China the status of market economy unless the Asian giant starts producing the shoes it sells here in compliance with the same quality, environment and safety standards as are applied here in Italy.”
The Italian footwear industry is looking towards the US and the Middle East, particularly for high-end footwear, and to South Korea, which has been performing well.
China remains a key market in terms of the quantities it absorbs and the high average price of the shoes sold there. The association is also eyeing South America, and, in the long term, Iran, where it conducted an exploratory mission in December.
