President Lula threatens journalists with a shoe

SÃO PAULO, 12 January 2009 - The 36th edition of Couromoda - International Shoes, Sportsgoods and Leathergoods Fair was opened today by President Lula. Present at the ceremony were industry leaders from all corners of the globe, the mayor of the city of São Paulo, Paulo Kassab, and the governor of the state of São Paulo, Jose Serra.

 

President Lula made everyone laugh when he threatened reporters with a shoe. During his talk, he was very optimistic about Brazil’s prospects of attenuating the darkest side of the financial crisis that has provoked havoc worldwide – but only if Brazilians, all together, government, industry and civil society could work effective and efficiently toward specific goals. He evoked the great success accomplished by those in the shoes and leather goods industries, as examples to be mirrored by other areas of the economy.

 

Spread over 80 thousand square meters, of which 42 thousand are fully dedicated to booths, Couromoda 2009 is the biggest ever. Couromoda, International Shoes, Sportsgoods and Leathergoods Fair ranks third worldwide and it is Latin America specialized leading trade fair. It is the most important business and launchings event of the footwear and leathergoods industry; and the most patronized and representative fair of the sector.

Over 3 thousand brands of footwear, accessories, garments and sportsgoods will show their novelties at Couromoda, which will feature 1200 exhibitors, corresponding to 90% of the Brazilian production of footwear and accessories.

The 36th edition of Couromoda has brought innovations, among which a series of Seminars with topics on fashion, design and creativity and also a new exhibition area called the World of Sports. On a 744 square meter space 28 sportsgoods companies will show their collections, representing over 80 brands and a range of some 3 thousand products.

 Couromoda is the first Fair of the year in the Yearly Trade Fairs Calendar and the only event of the sector in Brazil during the first semester, it is the time for retailers to reload their stocks, after the year-end sales and to compare the fall/winter collections.

For the president of Couromoda, Francisco Santos, Couromoda 2009 will show a new and positive moment for exports. ”Everything indicates that the dollar will stabilize at a new level, after the crisis of the markets and this will strengthen the position of Brazilian exporters. Our industry already stands at a new quality tier and an eventual improvement in the exchange rate will allow us to become more competitive”. (More images of the event can be visualized at file "COUROMODA" in <www.flickr.com/photos/vascopress >