Jorge Donadelli, founder and president of Calçados Donadelli, has been appointed president of Sindifranca, the Footwear Industry Association of Franca, São Paulo.

The Franca footwear manufacturing cluster is made up of 500 factories with an estimated output of 37.2 million pairs of footwear this year.

In 2004, Franca produced 35.4 million pairs, which equates to almost three million pairs per month. Of those, 25.3 million pairs (71.5%) were sold in the domestic market; the other 10.1 million pairs were exported. Franca ships its products to 60 countries and 63% of annual exports are bound for the US.

Stating the priorities of his term, Mr. Donadelli said that the association will generate strategies to protect Brazilian footwear, ensure the application of protective measures for raw materials and resist Chinese footwear imports that are blamed for eroding local exports.