Portuguese footwear to present itself as model for European reindustrialisation

The Portuguese footwear industry plans to present itself in Brussels next week as a model to follow in the reindustrialisation of Europe – in a sector where 88% of the 24 billion pairs of shoes produced annually originate in Asia.

“In recent decades, the national footwear sector has established itself as an international benchmark based on quality, expertise, design and technological innovation. Now, it aims to demonstrate that it is possible to manufacture in Europe, create value and compete on a global scale,” highlights the Portuguese Association of Footwear, Components, Leather Goods and Substitutes Manufacturers (APICCAPS).

In this context, APICCAPS and the Portuguese Footwear Technology Centre, with the support of the Permanent Representation of Portugal to the European Union (REPER) and the European Footwear Industry Confederation (CEC), will present the national industry as “a case study”, at a session to be held on June 16 in Brussels, bringing together European policy-makers to discuss “a model of reindustrialisation based on innovation, sustainability and local production”.

The session will take place at REPER and will bring together MEPs, institutional leaders, businesspeople, and European partners to discuss the future of European industry “in a context marked by profound geopolitical, economic and environmental transformations”. Over a hundred participants are expected.

Quoted in a press release, president of APICCAPS, renowned footwear designer Luís Onofre, said: “it is possible to manufacture high-quality footwear in Europe in a sustainable, innovative and economically viable manner”.

“We believe that the industry has a central role to play in the future of the European project and we want to contribute actively to this debate.”

In this regard, APICCAPS highlights that, over the last three years, the Portuguese footwear sector has made “the largest collective investment in its history”, mobilising over €100 million under the PRR (Plan for Recovery and Resilience), to “prepare the industry for a new generation of challenges, accelerating the digital and environmental transition”.

Among the most emblematic projects is BioShoes4All, an initiative worth around €70 million involving more than 60 partners – including companies, universities and technology centres – which aims to transform the footwear value chain through the development of biomaterials, the digitalisation of production processes, the recovery of waste and the promotion of circular economy models.

Onofre said the debate on European industry is now a strategic issue: “We continue to believe in the future of industrial production in Europe. Reindustrialisation requires a clear vision, consistent policies and fair competitive conditions on a global scale,” he said.

Focused on reinforcing the message that “Europe needs an ambitious industrial policy, capable of promoting local production, stimulating innovation and building more resilient, sustainable and competitive value chains”, APICCAPS says “the Portuguese footwear sector wants to be at the forefront of this transformation”.

Source: LUSA