Domestic leather and footwear enterprises urged to join professional fairs

Participation in professional fairs in a professional manner was the best way for Vietnamese leather and footwear manufacturers to introduce their products, approach customers, learn about their rivals and update themselves with information on trends for footwear products, said Mr Perter Kern, a footwear consultant expert from Germany.

Mr Kern was speaking at a seminar held in Hanoi on May 15 to introduce the Global Shoes Fair due to be open in September from 11-13 September in Dusseldorf, Germany. The seminar was organised by the German Industry and Commerce Hanoi, the Viet Nam Leather and Footwear Association (Lefaso) and Global Shoes organising board.

According to Mr Kern, Viet Nam has many advantages for development of the leather and footwear sector. However, in the current context of globalisation and fierce competition, Vietnamese leather and footwear manufacturers must focus on increasing efficiency, improve the quality of collections and participating in professional fairs in an active manner.

The seminar attracted the participation of many footwear manufacturers who were provided with information on the fair as well as advice on preparations for best participating in the event which has been regarded as the world biggest shoes and accessories fair held twice a year in March and September in Dusseldorf.

Global shoes fairs often draw the participation of some 1,400 exhibitors from 50 countries and territories in the world who come to display their latest collections. Around 33,000 visitors from 80 countries worldwide, many of them footwear importers, wholesalers, agents, owner of big shops and manufacturers visit the fair.

The EU is currently the most important export market for Viet Nam’s footwear manufacturers, said Ms Nguyen Thi Tong, Lefaso’s secretary general. Before 2004 , exports to the EU accounted for up to 80% of Vietnam’s total footwear export turnover. However, the figure has been reduced to over 50% in recent years due to the anti-dumping tariff the EU has imposed on Vietnamese footwear exports.