In 2008, Russia is again going to be the real opportunity for Italian-produced shoes.

"It's more relevant to look at the visitors to the Italian footwear stands than to analyse the official statistics, which, for a country like Russia, indicate only a general trend while systematically underestimating the size of the market".

This is how Vito Artioli, Chairman of ANCI, the National Association of Italian Footwear Manufacturers explains the feeling of operators towards the most promising market for Italian shoe-manufacturers.

Estimates for retail sales of leather footwear range between 9.5 billion Euros and 16.9 billion Euros.

This was evident at the Micam ShoEvent - the Milan fair that closed on 29 February last in Fiera Milano: Russian buyers remain highly active in spite of the air of crisis and the consequent prudence that can be noted in other markets.

It is not by accident, therefore, that less than 60 days after the end of the most important international trade-fair for top and medium-level footwear, ANCI is promoting the Obuv Mir Kozhi trade-fair, now in its 28th edition, taking place from 22 to 25 April 2008.