Micam-Shoevent

The most important international footwear exhibition in the world. It is held every six months in Milan and Bologna and is an opportunity to present the new collections by world leaders in the sector. Its importance can be summed up statistically: on average there are 1,100 participants, including the most representative Italian and foreign (about 100) firms (the Visitor space is reserved for the most fashionable foreign designers). There are 20,000 Italian buyers and 8,000 from the rest of Europe, the United States and the Far East.
&Quad;2002, September. Almost 34,000 visitors, of whom 20,206 were Italian and 13,648 foreigners, representing an increase of 4% on September 2001. From this year on Micam was to be held at the Milan Fair space. It was a record event, with 1,229 footwear manufacturers, of whom 180 were from abroad. It was a positive sign in a very difficult year: the figures for 2002 were the worst in the previous ten years. The commercial balance equaled 4,295 billion (down 11% in value and down 33% in quantity, compared with the previous year). Exports dropped 8.4% in quantity and 5.7% in value. 303 million pairs of shoes were sold abroad (28 million fewer than 2001). Imports rose alarmingly, with a total of 208.6 million pairs: up 9.9% in quantity and 7.4% in value.
&Quad;2003, March. 1,254 companies participated, including 203 foreigners (in the Visitor area alone, the number of exhibitors rose from 30 to 50). There were 31,523 visitors. The presence of foreigners was particularly encouraging: 12,030 buyers (5.8% more than in March 2002), in particular from France, Germany, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Spain, Belgium, and Holland. The participation of the USA and Russia remained unchanged, together with Eastern European countries. The numbers from the Far East were disappointing and, unsurprisingly, there was a strong drop in the Far Eastern presence, due to the outbreak of SARS. Micam was the first fair to be held after the announcement of the war in Iraq, coming at an already difficult time with a drop in production of 4.4% in quantity and 1.5% in value.