Italy has to leverage more on its high-value footwear industry which produced than 205 million pairs of shoes manufactured in Italy in 2011 with an estimated value of more than EUR 7 billion, according to the president of Italy’s national footwear manufacturers’ association ANCI, Cleto Sagripanti.

Sagripanti criticised the government’s proposal for a replacement of the Italian Institute for Foreign Trade (ICE), whose functions transferred to the ministry for foreign affairs in June 2011. Lack of clarity around the new proposals, in particular how much funding the government is prepared to make available for them, was holding back the efforts of companies to grow internationally, Mr Sagripanti said.

ANCI has for some time argued the need for a new “growth alliance” based on synergy among various actors (public, private, associations and banks) and to redefine international promotions policy. In addition, Sagripanti has called for the government to relaunch tax credits for research and development activities.