São Paulo – Appreciation of the US dollar should make the shoes sold at the Francal more attractive to foreigners. The Francal is one of the main shoe sector fairs in Brazil, to start on Tuesday (26) in the city of São Paulo. “We were not doing well with exports due to the harmful price of oil. Today, the [exchange rate, with each] dollar [being traded] at over R$ 2 makes exports easier. Product prices drop and they become more attractive,” said the president at Francal, Jamil Abdala.
In 2011, importers from 68 countries participated in the fair. Among them were representatives from Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Lebanon, Mauritania, Oman and Sudan. This year, the Arabs are expected again. “They always come, and I believe they will continue coming and should increase [their presence] due to exchange rates,” said Abdala. He recalls that the Middle East and South America are regions in the world that are usually present at the Francal and are not involved in the current international economic crisis.
Francal receives importers from all over the world. Last year, there were businessmen from countries like Bolivia, Albania, the Canary Islands, the United States, Spain, Italy and Japan. Over 28,000 buyers were received from Brazil and abroad, according to information disclosed by the fair organizers. Around 2,000 came from abroad. For this edition, Abdala believes in greater presence of importers, who will be shown the spring-summer shoe and accessory collection of around 1,000 exhibitors.
The fair should represent 30% of the turnover in the country’s shoe sector, which was R$ 21.8 billion (US$ 10.7 billion) last year. The percentage represents from three to four months of work for exhibitors. The Brazilian industry is among the largest in the world and brings together 8,200 companies, according to figures disclosed at the Francal. Last year, the sector produced 819.1 million pairs, of which 113 million were exported. Foreign sales generated US$ 1.3 billion.
Francal, apart from a great space for sales, is also a stage for debates for shoe and accessory producers. Talks and seminars cover themes like economics and fashion. In this edition, for example, there will be talks by economist and former finance minister Delfim Neto on the current world economic climate, and by Italian consultant Stefano Ferragamo, who will speak about world fashion, and by Brazilian stylist Walter Rodrigues, who will cover fashion tendencies. The minister of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade, Fernando Pimentel, will also be at the fair, on Tuesday, for a luncheon with sector heads.
Service
44th Francal – 2012
From June 26th to 29th, from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm (on the 29th, up to 5:00 pm)
At the Anhembi Exhibition Pavilion – São Paulo
Further Information: (+55 11) 2226-3100
Site: www.feirafrancal.com.br
Admittance is free and open to sector professionals
*Translated by Mark Ament
