The World Footwear Congress is less than a week away, and for the first time since its inception it is set to take place outside of Europe. Rio de Janeiro, the wonderful city as the locals praise it, will be the host to this year’s event. One of the most important conferences in the footwear industry, the WFC will bring together over 350 industry leaders from all over the world to discuss business topics, development prospects and the reality of today’s production and distribution challenges. The congress is co-sponsored by Micam and Couromoda, with guest speakers from 20 countries including Thomas G. Bata (president of Bata Group), Anderson Birman (president of Arezzo) and Diego Rossetti (CEO of Fratelli Rossetti). There is something to be noted about the choice for this year’s location, considering Rio will be the host to both the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 Olympics.
–Jenn Tello
