The event has registered confirmed participation of over 150 leading footwear and leather accessories companies from 20 countries. With more than five months to go before the show, the exhibitor number is expected to easily cross the 200 mark.

Expo Riva Schuh Middle East will occupy a net exhibition area of 2,500m2 and as of August, 2007, more than 75% of the exhibition space has already been booked.

The majority of the confirmed exhibitors for the first edition of Expo Riva Schuh are from Austria, Brazil, China, Egypt, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Italy, Pakistan, Portugal, Spain, Taiwan (ROC), Thailand, The Netherlands, Türkiye, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States and Vietnam

‘The overwhelming response received so far from global footwear and leather accessories companies for the event is an indication of the industry’s growing interest in the region’s markets’, said Fasahat Ali Khan, Advisor to the Chairman and Board of Directors of Expo Centre Sharjah.

‘The Middle Eastern economies are at their peaks with consumer demand and consumption at all time highs. Along with other sectors, the Middle East footwear and leather accessories sector is experiencing a massive boom. There is tremendous scope for further growth and I am confident that Expo Riva Schuh Middle East, which is the first event of its kind in the region, will be an ideal platform for global companies engaged in the trade to tap the market’s unlimited potential’, he said. ‘The fact that the Middle East edition of Expo Riva Schuh is being jointly organised by Expo Centre Sharjah, which is a leading organiser of several highly successful trade shows in the region, and Riva del Garda FiereCongressi, organisers of Expo Riva Schuh, the already well established international trade event for volume footwear in Italy’s Riva del Garda, has been responsible for such a large number of global footwear companies signing up for the debut edition of the show in the region.’

Expo Riva Schuh is an international bi-annual trade show dedicated to the footwear industry and is hosted by Riva del Garda FiereCongressi in Riva del Garda, located in the Trentino province of Italy. The event represents one of the major international crossroads in footwear business for products in the medium-price bracket. The 68th edition of Expo Riva Schuh was held in Riva del Garda from June 16-19, 2007. The event, occupying an exhibition area of 32,000m2, hosted more than 1,100 exhibitors from 32 countries and showcased the spring/summer collection for 2008. It attracted 10,200 visitors of which 62% were foreign buyers.