HCM CITY —  The 19^th International Shoes and Leather Exhibition opens today in HCM City, offering local and foreign firms in the leather industry a chance to explore business opportunities.

The 2017 Shoes and Leather Vietnam has attracted more than 700 exhibitors from 30 countries and territories, including Brazil, China, Germany, the US, India, Italy, Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, and Turkey besides host Việt Nam.

They will display chemicals, shoe making and tanning machinery and technologies, leather and other materials, shoe components and accessories, finished products and more.

The Council for Leather Exports of India is participating with 34 member companies to introduce as well as promote their products.

There are 29 Italian producers of machinery and equipment and chemicals used in tanning and shoe production.

According to the Việt Nam Leather and Footwear Association (Lefaso), the event is aimed at enhancing export promotion, soliciting investment and promoting the image of the country’s leather and footwear industry.

It also seeks to help local companies acquire modern technologies, it said.

The expo will be held together with the 19^th International Footwear and Leather Products Exhibition, which will showcase trendy and fashionable footwear and leather products and accessories.

Several seminars on the latest technologies and fashion trends in the shoe and leather industries will be held on the sidelines of the expos.

Leather and footwear are among the country’s key export items, fetching US$16.2 billion last year. They are expected to rise to $18 billion this year.

Organised by Lefaso and Top Repute Co., Ltd, the three-day exhibitions at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Centre in District 7 are expected to receive more than 15,000 visitors. — VNS