Assintecal, the Brazilian Association of Leather and Shoe Component Manufacturers, has identified Columbia as a key export market. The moves follow the disclosure by the Colombian Association of the Shoe Industry (Acicam) that in 2001, the country imported around $600 million worth of components, mainly from China and Italy.

Assintecal’s first attempt at making contact with potential buyers was made through a special edition of the Buyers' Project, an initiative supported by APEX, the Brazilian Export Promotion Agency.  Under the scheme, prospective customers including C I Canguru, one of Colombia's largest buyers of components, visited to Brazil to meet interested suppliers.

The initiative also involved the participation of Brazilian component suppliers in IFLS, an International Footwear and Leather Show held in Bogotá, February 18-21 which had more than 500 visitors.  Nine Brazilian companies had stands at the event while another 29 sent representatives.

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