Organisers confident over Middle East exhibition
30/08/2007
More than 150 footwear and leather accessories companies have already registered to attend the debut edition of Expo Riva Schuh Middle East.
The event, which will take place in Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates from February 17–19 next year, will be the region's first international trade show specifically for high-volume, medium-priced footwear and leather accessories.
With more than five months to go before the show, the organisers expect exhibitor numbers to exceed 200.
So far, there are confirmed exhibitors from Austria, Brazil, China, Egypt, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Italy, Pakistan, Portugal, Spain, Taiwan, Thailand, the Netherlands, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States and Vietnam
"The overwhelming response received so far from global footwear and leather accessories companies for the event is an indication of the industry’s growing interest in the region’s markets," said Fasahat Ali Khan, advisor to the chairman and board at the Expo Centre in Sharjah.
"The Middle Eastern economies are at their peaks with consumer demand and consumption at all-time highs. Along with other sectors, the Middle East footwear and leather accessories sector too is experiencing a massive boom. There is tremendous scope for further growth and I am confident that Expo Riva Schuh Middle East will be an ideal platform for global companies engaged in the trade to tap the market's potential," he said.
Within the Middle East, the Gulf Co-opertion Council (the states of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates) market for leather goods alone is valued at over $1 billion. The UAE footwear market is worth more than $300 million.
According to global footwear industry estimates, the world footwear market is projected to reach 13.9 billion pairs corresponding to a value of $192.4 billion by 2010. According to some industry sources, Asia could become the dominant force in the market in the years ahead.
Although much smaller, the organisers hope the Middle East event will echo the success of their twice-yearly Expo Riva Schuh exhibition in Riva del Garda, Italy, which also focuses on footwear in the medium-price bracket, with a retail sale price of between €75 and €100.
The 68th edition of Expo Riva Schuh was held in Riva del Garda from June 16 to 19, 2007. The event, occupying an exhibition area of 32,000 square-metres, hosted more than 1,100 exhibitors from 32 countries and showcased the spring/summer collection for 2008. It attracted 10,200 visitors.
