More than 300 companies from all over the world attend this event. From 2012 to 2015, China expects 20% annual growth in the retail market. In the past 5 years, footwear imports have grown by 293% in terms of value. Currently, the consumption of footwear in China equals to 2, 7 billion pairs, with more than 300 million new potential consumers. The country imports around 33 million pairs with a total value of 864 million dollars. Hence the necessity to host this leading annual event in China, and for the first time outside of Italy, which is usually hosted twice a year by Fiera Milano.

The show was preceded by a press conference which was attended by, among others, the CEO of Fiera Milano, Enrico Pazzali; the president of Anci Cleto Sagripanti; the consul in Shanghai Gabriele De Stefano; the head of Ice Shanghai, Claudio Pasqualucci and the president of the region of Marche, Gian Mario Spacca.

“TheMicam Shanghai – said Sagripanti – has hit the mark. Our long-term objective is to promote business opportunities for our exhibitors and, thanks to our range of high quality products, we strive to become a key point of reference for Chinese buyers in this sector.

Enrico Pazzali also stated: “this is a fundamental step in the process of internationalisation of Fiera Milano, in which China plays a key role. We are so certain of the success that theMicam will have here that we have already planned a second edition in October and – we hope – in the years to come, to be able to open the doors to other categories of exhibitors  within the fashion industry sector”.

Fiera Milano news - n.54 April 2013