Footwear expo to host 75 top brands

A total of 75 global companies from 15 countries are set to exhibit their signature products, including high-volume, low- to high-priced footwear collection, leather products, handbags and accessories, at an upcoming footwear event.

Footwear Expo 2009, the definitive event for ‘footwear’ industry in the region, is set to host leading players within the $190 billion global footwear market, aiming to leverage the growing prospects in UAE’s retail industry.

Organised by Orange Fairs and Events for the second consecutive year, the three-day exhibition will open on November 2 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Dubai.

Global traders have expressed their confidence in the UAE’s retail market and its infrastructure for re-export, following latest market findings by research firm RNCOS, that the local retail sector is poised for a 12 per cent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from 2009 to 2013 amidst the current fiscal crisis.

In anticipation of a bigger turnout this year, the organiser has expanded the event’s venue to a total of 1500 sq m to accommodate the 2000 to 2500 visitors from 20 countries.

“The confidence placed by global trading and manufacturing companies in the strength of the retail market and the export infrastructure of the UAE is an important indicator of the market’s potential to remain lucrative despite the pull of the crisis,” said Nafees Ahmed, project manager, Orange Fairs and Events.

“Our goal in staging Footwear Expo 2009 is intertwined with the aims of many footwear companies to leverage the prospects within the regional market, amidst the growing demand. This year’s event will also be focusing on the thriving re-export trade in footwear, given its strong showing in the region.”

Estimated to hit an average of Dh1 billion ($272 million) per year, the UAE footwear market is witnessing increasing demand, especially for Gulf Arab sandals for both men and women, which are being manufactured and sourced locally within the GCC region.

Leather footwear accounts for about 30 per cent of the market share, with the rest belonging to textile, plastic and rubber footwear.

“The past years have seen the UAE become one of the economies to provide an excellent retail environment to both global and regional businesses,” Ahmed continued.

“By staging this event in Dubai, we are aiming to encourage companies to leverage the opportunities widely available in the country, while providing exposure to exceptional products that will enliven trade within the entire industry. We have high expectations that Footwear Expo 2009 will be another success, both in terms of global participation and value of products sold,” he concluded.