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International buyers will arrive from Venezuela, United States, Ecuador, the Caribbean, Costa Rica, Mexico and Uruguay, who have expressed their interest for Colombian footwear, leather goods and leather clothing collections that will be offered at the XXIV version of the International Footwear and Leather Show (IFLS) and the VI International Exhibition of Leather and Inputs, Machinery and Technology (EICI).
The 150 buyers that PROCOLOMBIA intends to invite will meet from August 2 to 5 at Corferias with the 399 Colombian exporters who will participate in the event.
At the event, Colombians will present their latest offers to generate business opportunities with the international entrepreneurs invited. IFLS is one of the most renowned fairs in the country, organized by the Colombian Association of Footwear, Leather and Manufacturing Producers (ACICAM), with the support of PROCOLOMBIA Colombia.
The foreign guests were precisely selected to give priority to those companies that acquire added value products, including fashion, design and quality.
Ecuador and United States are bringing most of the foreign buyers, with 45 and 14, respectively followed by Costa Rica with 10, the Caribbean with 7 and Venezuela with 3. Mexico and Uruguay are sending 1 buyer each.
Opportunities for the Industry
PROCOLOMBIA identified that Guatemalan buyers, for instance, are looking for raw material and inputs for the footwear and leather goods industry, and that those from Costa Rica require casual footwear for men, women and children.
On the other hand, Ecuadorean entrepreneurs will look for formal and casual footwear for men, women and children the United States and Caribbean representatives are mainly looking for inputs and raw materials that adjust to their designs, to be manufactured by Colombian companies interested in working with their designs and brands.
As to the participation of Colombian exporters, Bucaramanga and Bogotá are the cities with the highest number of companies 139 and 131, respectively Cali will bring 48, Cucuta, 33 and Medellin 31. Pereira and Barranquilla will bring five each, Pasto four and Manizales, Ibague and Santa Marta one each.
Based on information of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Tourism, with Dane figures, footwear and leather manufactured product exports in 2010 amounted to US$121.4 million.
The national footwear and input industry is specialized on casual, formal and industrial footwear and sandals, and inputs like toecaps, soles and heels. It also generates employment for specialized labor, ample production capacity and value added in its products.
On the other hand, leather exporters stand out for the quality of their designs, which has allowed them to offer a wide variety of leather products.
The International Footwear and Leather Show 2011 is one of the fairs included in the Plan to Support Exporters affected by revaluation, Atpdea and rains, launched by PROCOLOMBIA since last July 1st, and which will extend until December.
The Support Plan contemplates nearly 50 activities including commercial and buyers&rsquo missions, business rounds, market information and participation in the most renowned international fairs.
Nearly 1,200 exporting companies will participate in the promotion events foreseen in the plan.
