MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentine footwear industry planning to make 200m pairs by 2020

Alberto Sellaro, president of the Argentine footwear industry chamber

Argentina's footwear industry hopes to make 200 million pairs and export 50 million shoes as part of new strategic growth plan by 2020, according to officials at leading trade federation Camara de la Industria del Calzado (CIC).

In a statement, President Alberto Sellaro said last year marked a record production hike of 105m pairs, up 10% from 2009 and 190% from 2001.

Sellaro said the industry has posted eight years of consecutive growth, despite the latest financial crisis. But it has more ambitious plans for the future and is looking to target new export markets, he added.

“The plan will allow the national market to grow but will also enable us to increase our market share in the international markets,” Sellaro said. This will be a qualitative jump with long-term policies and quantitative as it will create (12.000) new jobs and a very competitive industry on a global scale.“

Currently, Argentina's shoe exports go mainly to Mercosur partners such as Uruguay, Paraguay, Chile, Brazil and Bolivia. But the CIC is working to enter the Japanese and Chinese markets where 10,000 pairs were sold last year. Sellaro said the industry will also make a push to promote Argentina as a leading leather shoe purveyor in the international arena.

According to Sellaro, the industry's fortunes have risen in recent years, helped by rising domestic consumption in an improving Argentinean economy. Argentines are keen buyers of domestic brands with a per capita consumption of three pairs.

Sellaro added the sector requires more funding, however, to finance future growth. ”Today, many factories have begun a modernisation process, key to continue growing, but they need access to machinery and to do this better credit terms,“ he said.

Horacio Moschetto, the CIC's secretary, said it's crucial to make investments that can foster exports and help open commercial delegations in other countries. This is why greater financing availability is necessary to incorporate ”technology and design”.