European Shoe Industry Enters China With Official Backing

The Organizing Committee of China international footwear industry recently announced to Guangzhou that in from October 9th to 11th, Italy national Footwear Manufacturers Association, the Spanish Footwear Association and the Portuguese footwear association will participate in the "Third China International Footwear Industry Exposition" in Beijing in the form of national pavilion.

It is the first time that European shoe giants have entered China with their own official backing, which has attracted wide attention.

European insight to facilitate China's trip

Ms. Wang Ying, Secretary General of the footwear export chamber of China Chamber of Light Industry Crafts Import and Export Association, said: at present, the EU's anti-dumping against Chinese shoe products is implemented with the appeal and support of Italy shoe manufacturers.

This time, the association of Italy shoe manufacturers went to Beijing, which illustrated the attractiveness of the Chinese market.

In May of this year, Tan An, deputy director of the Organizing Committee of China International Footwear exposition, made a special trip to Italy, Spain, Portugal and the shoe industry association for the exhibition. He also introduced the actual situation of the development of China's footwear industry: China exported $more than 200 million worth of footwear products to Italy every year, and imported leather products valued at $130 million from Italy for footwear production.

Ms. Wang Ying believes that in recent years, the market share of Chinese shoe products in foreign countries has been expanding, making some shoe manufacturers in the EU have different degrees of concern.

In fact, the traditional shoe making countries represented by European countries such as Italy, Spain, Portugal and so on are different from China in terms of shoe production and trade.

Although there have been some contradictions and conflicts in the past two years, as long as both sides play their own advantages in accordance with the idea of harmonious trade, they can resolve contradictions, complement each other's advantages and achieve a win-win situation.

Some people of insight in European footwear industry have long seen that trade barriers and trade sanctions against China, a big shoemaking country, are not the way to solve the problem.

It is precisely these knowledgeable people who are rushing to speak that the European footwear industry has actively accepted the sincere invitation of the third China International Footwear Expo.

Portugal values China market

Ms. Wang Ying said that in April last year in Dongguan, they saw the exhibition of Portuguese shoes at a local shoe exhibition. In September, they also saw the exhibition of Portuguese shoes in Shanghai China International Leather Exhibition. They saw many traces of the Portuguese shoe industry on site visits at some shoe making industry bases in China.

The Portuguese government has invested heavily in encouraging and supporting the development of footwear industry. The number of Portuguese shoemaking enterprises participating in international exhibitions and publicity activities has increased by 60%.

The size and frequency of their participation in China's shoe show are surging.

In Portugal's two annual international shoe exhibition, they also take China as an important target market and carry out a series of publicity and exhibition activities.

Portugal is a traditional shoemaking power. The shoe making industry has developed to the third largest in Europe and the seventh largest in the world, of which 85% are exported, and the export market is generally in Europe, Australia and North America. But in the past one or two years, they have listed China and Russia in 15 target countries for launching propaganda and export offensive.

The Portugal footwear industry believes that although China is the largest producer and exporter of footwear, Chinese shoes also have good quality, but the Chinese market still has the ability to absorb products from other countries.

Chinese people's consumption ability has increased rapidly, their purchasing power is very strong, and the demand for the market is very high.

About 65 million of these people are a huge potential market.

The shoes produced by Portugal can meet the needs of the fast-growing Chinese market.

International top brand shoes join hands with Guangdong

"Ten years ago, the relevant parties in Italy had explored Guangdong. At that time, Italy thought that it would be 8000 yuan for a pair of shoes to sell products in China, and that they could not be sold at that time; Guangdong footwear manufacturers had suggested that the other party should integrate Italy's brand advantage, technological superiority and China's low cost advantage to complement each other, and the other side did not accept it.

Ten years later, Italians seem to have to take this road. "

Chen Jialin, the former chairman of Guangdong Footwear Manufacturers Association, thinks so.

It is understood that the international top brands currently have sports shoes Nike, Adidas and other factories in Dongguan, Guangdong.

The total output and export volume of Chinese shoes ranked first in the world, and Guangdong's exports accounted for 42.1% of the total. Exports to the EU grew fastest and exported 870 million US dollars, an increase of 50.6% over 2004.

For the Italians' collective landing, the Guangdong industry said: "we hope to cooperate with the other side, with the advantage of the other side's brand and the advantage of the European market sales network".

Guangzhou Yuexiu footwear industry association Lin boss believes that domestic shoe-making technology is no longer a problem.

Regarding the issue of brand building, Wang Xiaoke, Secretary General of the Organizing Committee of the fair, said that the building of the brand integrates factors such as culture, economy and so on. It takes time to polish slowly and needs the approval of the crowd.

"There is still a long way to go to make an international brand."