A business development and market promotion programme, organised by The Sri Lankan Export Development Board (EDB) in Italy, France and Germany last year, appears to be paying dividends as footwear exports in the sector are beginning to rise significantly.

The EDB organised the programme in the hope of assisting local footwear manufacturers and exporters to expand their market share in Europe and it appears this has come to fruition as Sri Lankan footwear exports increased 43.52% to reach $13 million in the period January to September 2006.

According to the EDB, EU buyers were happy to work with the Sri Lankan manufacturers involved in the programme, and this helped to bolster trade between the two regions—Italy alone imported footwear, gaiters and components worth almost €2.7 million in the nine-month period to September, an increase of 121% year-on-year.

In order to maintain this growth, the EDB also plans to organise a local footwear and leather products exhibition in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Footwear Association at the end of this year, in order to attract more foreign buyers.