Fenac, in Novo Hamburgo, held the opening ceremony of the 46th Fimec (International Fair of Leather, Chemicals, Components, Machinery and Equipment for Footwear and Tanneries). In the presence of authorities and entities of the cluster, the largest leather-footwear fair in Latin America opened to the public. Until Thursday the 9th, professionals from the sector can check the news and trends in hides and skins, chemical products, components, machines, technology and innovation for different areas of the sector.
During the ceremony, the director-president of Fenac, Marcio Jung, thanked the presence of the authorities, sponsors, exhibitors and visitors. “I also thank all the foreigners who came from their countries understanding that the Fimec is the place to do business”, he highlighted. Jung also remembered his trajectory in the footwear-leather sector. “I personally have accompanied the Fimec since 1985, when I worked in a company of the segment. Many of my relatives have worked in footwear industries. My experience and my family’s is no different from the history of the vast majority of people here in the region and in other footwear centers”, he reported, remembering that all these families meet at the Fimec, which is one of the sector’s largest fairs in the world. “It is with a great joint effort that people from almost 40 countries meet in Novo Hamburgo to seek cooperation and development solutions for the footwear sector, breaking down borders and strengthening relationships,” added the CEO.
In his speech, the vice-governor of Rio Grande do Sul, Gabriel Souza, highlighted the importance of the sector. “The largest footwear cluster in the world is in Rio Grande do Sul, to our pride, especially in the Vale do Sinos and Paranhana. We are the state that exports the most in dollar volume of resources; we are the state that produces the most added value in our product, which is of very high quality. Besides, a sector is also related to exchange rate issues and deserves a special attention from the RS Government. Our doors are 100% open to the footwear-leather sector”, pointed out the vice-governor.
The mayor of Novo Hamburgo, Fátima Daudt, highlighted the Fimec as one of the largest footwear fairs in the world. “It is a pleasure to see people from all parts of Brazil and the world in this great link between the footwear production and the market”, she celebrated. To Fatima, besides presenting innovations, the Fimec is where the sector meets and exchanges experiences. “The size of this event and the volume of business and opportunities allow us to say that, from today until Thursday, Novo Hamburgo is the world capital of footwear. We have here the strength of the leather-footwear sector and the connections that are established have the potential to become permanent, providing income, employment, and development,” said the mayor.
Exhibitors and visitors project good business
On the first day, the halls and stands of the Fimec were full of professionals in search of new business and connections. For Rogério de Moura, from Mecsul’s Sales and Export sector, the Fimec will be decisive for the company. “The market has been waiting, so we hope that the fair will be the beacon, a turning of the key, for this change. We are betting on it!”, he pointed out. Besides the booth, the brand is also present in the Concept Factory. “We always bring some new component, because we listen to what the market is asking of us,” said Moura.
Another exhibitor present in this edition is Bertex. For Gerson Berwanger, the company’s director, the first day was positive. “We are receiving clients from all over Brazil and everyone is excited and looking for news. And we are a fashion launcher brand”, he explained. Berwanger also detailed that the Fimec is the fair of the year for Bertex. “The Fimec is very important because it leverages our sales”, he pointed out, explaining that one of the trends presented this year by the brand is the lining platform, mainly in cork, straw and jute rope. “We are betting on natural materials for the new summer collection’, he added.
Among the day visitors was the Mexican Pablo De La Fuente Garcia, from the company Court, who visited Brazil and the Fimec for the first time. “I come to look for materials, machines, and new contacts. I am attending several meetings and getting to know new people and brands”, he reported. On the first day, Garcia already had a good impression of the event. “It is a great fair and I want to have time to walk through it all. I will come back on the other days to see everything!”.
Marcio Jung
