America, Asia and Europe - seeking common ground

The International Footwear Cooperation Forum (IFCF), held concurrently with APLF 2006 in Hong Kong, is devoted towards a better understanding of how the various groups that make up the global footwear market can benefit each other. It will be held on March 29 at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. The event is co-sponsored by Asia Pacific Leather Fair Ltd and Beijing Leather magazine. A prime purpose of the forum is to offer a platform in which importers and retailers in major markets in the West can inform Asian manufacturers precisely what they require, and how they view the future trends within their markets. Speakers from Asia will explain how they can assist in meeting these needs and how Western technology and expertise can be expanded in the process. Major topics covered during the half-day forum include: * Buying trends in the major markets of Europe and America * The development and growth potential of domestic consumer markets in Asia generally and China in particular * Update on 'restraint of trade' and anti-dumping measures in the European Union (EU) and the US * Market potential in Asia for Western technology, machines, materials and design. Speakers will include: * Peter Mangione, President of Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America (FDRA) who will examine key differences between the US and European markets * Yrjo Gorski, President of European Confederation of the Shoe Retail Trade Associations (CEDDEC) who will look at the macro trends in shoe and leather business in general and buying rings and buying groups in the Europe market in particular. * Luo He-li, Editor-in-Chief of Beijing Leather magazine who will talk on traits and trends within the growing Asian footwear markets and discuss the advantages of Asian manufacturers. * Chen Mien-Wu, President of Taiwan Hong Da Footwear Co who will focus on how Taiwanese footwear manufacturers cooperate with both European and US retailers. International Footwear Cooperation Forum is an additional event in a growing number of features being made available to visitors attending APLF - Materials, Manufacturing and Technology Exhibition (MMT) and the related Fashion Access (FA).