Marikina shoes compete in European market

Marikina Mayor Marides Fernando recently led proprietors of leading Marikina-based footwear companies in a trip to Dusseldorf, Germany for the GDS World Trade Exposition.

The participating manufacturers were Gibi, Rusty Lopez, Figlia, Manels, D. Tactacan, McJames, La Ditta, Barry, Bristol, Florich, Aziza and Zenco. Their products on display were made of genuine leather and indigenous materials.

The exposition is Marikina City’s first in European shows after 15 years and has proven to be quite productive in terms of gaining insights about penetrating the European market.

"The most significant thing we got from the exposition and exposure itself is that we came out to understand the European market and see how the competition is doing," said Roger Py, director general of the Philippine Footwear Federation Inc. (PFFI). "We were able to see how the other country suppliers are doing."

Minerva Falcon, Philippine Ambassador to Germany and Rosalie Evangelista, commercial attaché to Germany joined the mayor and her husband, MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando to lead the Philippine delegation.

The delegates and other manufacturers are committed to consistently promote and eventually penetrate the global market by participating in other missions. "We are invited to participate in the GDS World Trade Exposition on April 21-24 in Dong Guan, China," Py said.

Shoe manufacturers likewise expressed their gratitude to the mayor and the Canadian International Development Agency for subsidizing their participation for this undertaking and their continued support to the industry that the city is well known for.