Member News

Portuguese Footwear industry to invest €160m by 2020 as export drive continues

Portugal’s footwear manufacturing sector expects to invest some €160 million between now and 2020 and aims to obtain “formal public recognition” as an industrial cluster, the leather and footwear sector association APICCAPS announced on Tuesday.

According to the group, the planned investments with European Union help are to be channeled above all into innovation, with €50 million above all going to explore new techniques, technologies and materials; internationalization, with €70 million; and training, with €36 million.

Over the next decade the association aims to make the sector “the international benchmark … for sophistication and creativity, boosting Portuguese exports based on a sustainable and highly competitive national productive base, founded on knowledge and innovation,” its president, Manuel Carlos told journalists at the Micam trade fair in Milan.

Portugal has 93 companies represented at this year’s Micam – a record number and the second-largest foreign delegation at the event.

The country’s footwear industry exports more than 95% of production, to some 152 countries.

Compliments of AICEP – A member of the EACCNY