Milan (Italy) (EFE).- The footwear companies of the Valencian Community consolidate their weight in international markets with an export during 2022 of almost 1,300 million euros, almost half of the national total that exceeded 3,000 million, has announced the president of the Generalitat, Ximo Puig.
The head of the Consell has offered this information on the second day of the Milan Shoe Fair, the main one in the sector in Europe and where the companies of the Community account for 48 of the 100 Spanish exhibitors in the event, mainly from Elche, with 33 .
Accompanied by the mayors from Elche, Carlos González, and from Elda, Rubén Alfaro, the Minister of Productive Sectors, Rafa Climent, and together with the president of the national footwear employers’ association (FICE), Rosana Perán, from Elche, and the regional association AVECAL , Marián Cano, Puig has highlighted the “effort” made by Valencian and Spanish footwear to be “well located in the most important fair”, Milan.
He has stated that now is the time to “advance and continue consolidating our position” in the world of Valencian footwear, which directly employs 22,000 people, especially in the Vinalopó regions of Alicante, with Elche, Elda and Petrer and Villena as epicenters, and which generates many more indirect jobs. He has also placed emphasis on the necessary incorporation of young people into this industry to guarantee their future.
Innovation, technological training and training of the Valencian footwear sector
Puig has valued the ability to improve that Valencian shoe companies have historically carried out based on innovation, technological training and training.
“In the worst difficulties and scenarios, the sector has always looked forward” and has achieved “after a few years of difficulties and crisis an export of almost 1,300 million euros a year, and recover positions prior to the pandemic” of the covid -19.
For the president, the abundant Valencian presence in Milan is “fundamental” because it is “the cradle of shoe design” and helps to consolidate the position of companies within international fashion.
Puig has highlighted the good performance of China and other Asian markets as buyers of shoes from the Valencian Community and has commented that this reversal of the situation has occurred after “resetting and betting on technology, training and innovation”.
“At the moment, the Asian world is one of the main export benchmarks together with the EU” which reflects, he insisted, that “things have been done so well that it is even sold to competitors such as Italy and China”.
During his tour of the pavilions of the Milano Rho fairgrounds, the president visited some twenty exhibitors from Elche, Elda, Sax, Crevillent, Xinorlet-Monóvar, Petrer, Ontinyent and Paterna, among them the firms Pikolinos, Yokono Europe, Aura Future, J’Hayber, Garvalín, Illice Internacional, Gioseppo, Unisa, Studio Mihara, Hispanitas, Pedro Miralles and Wonders.
