On a mission - CICB executive president José Fernando Bello

CICB and Apex-Brasil's 'Business Mission to Vietnam', which took eight representatives of the Brazilian leather sector to explore the country's market, was modestly described as "fruitful", according to José Fernando Bello, executive president of CICB, which also coordinates Brazilian Leather, the project focused on the international promotion of Brazil's leather and skins sector.

Yet the growth of the mission itself - up two companies from the six that took part last year, bringing $5.3 million to the Brazilian sector - as well as potential in the Vietnamese leather market is undeniable.

Besides technical visits in Ho Chi Minh City and Binh Duong, the mission promoted the companies' participation at Shoes & Leather Vietnam - the country's largest leather and footwear exhibition. Building on its success, all participants have formally shown interest to participate in next year's Business Mission to Vietnam.

With these statistics showing the promise of Vietnam, Leather International put some questions to José Fernando Bello, CICB executive president, to find out how the mission went.

Leather International: What has been the immediate response from the Business Mission to Vietnam and how soon will you see benefits from it?

Fernando Bello: All participating tanneries came back pleased with the experience. They were able to learn Vietnam's enormous buying potential.

An official estimate from Lefaso [Vietnam Leather Footwear and Handbag Association] suggests that, until 2020, the consumption of leather by the Vietnamese industry will grow 45%, and double by 2025.

The companies have their own targets and plans to grow in Vietnam. It's important to highlight that all of them came back quite satisfied from the mission though. We believe we might increase our exports by 20% in comparison with the previous year.

What was the purpose or objective of the mission and how did this one differ or evolve from previous ones?

The mission's objective was to bring Brazilian suppliers closer to the growing Vietnamese market. There were eight companies attending the mission this year, whereas there were six in the previous one. As a highlight this year, CICB/Brazilian Leather project is proud to say the tanneries attending the mission and many others all over Brazil are preparing themselves for the Brazilian Leather Certification of Sustainability (CSCB). As the world's first certification to bring the leather industry standards for a sustainable economic, social and environmental production, CSCB is about to come into force. We believe CSCB might assure the quality of Brazilian leather not only to buyers from Vietnam but also to buyers from all over the world.

Why is Vietnam particularly attractive when it comes to establishing greater relations with Brazilian leather? What are some of the data or statistics that make it an exceptional place to invest?

Vietnam is the world's fourth-largest leather and skins buyer. In 2014 alone, the country imported $1.3 billion in hides, and it has more than 600 footwear and manufactured-goods industries, producing one billion pairs of shoes and 150 million purses every year, with 40% of these products being leather made.

In 2014 there were six companies; this year there were eight. Will the number of companies grow year on year and what is the process to choose companies to take part?

The intention is to grow the number of companies attending the mission, although this is something to be strategically planned year by year. The companies representing the Brazilian sector are the ones that provide finished and semi-finished leather.

Business Mission to Vietnam participants

The eight companies from the Brazilian leather sector that attended the 2015 Mission were:

• Alexander Shoes
• Representações (trader)
• America Leather (trader)
• Couros Bom Retiro (tannery)
• Curtume Cubatão (tannery)
• Durlicouros (tannery)
• JBS Couros (tannery)
• LiderkollLtda (trader)
• Pacific Leather (trader).