Abicalçados' Commercial Promotion Analyst, Paola Pontin, who followed the action, highlighted the attention given to Brazilian footwear by Arab importers and consumers. In the six days of the exhibition, more than 20 thousand people visited the pavilion where Brazilian footwear was featured. “It was the perfect time to present our repositioning, not only as a major worldwide footwear player, but also for the sustainable processes that have been developing and they put the sector at the forefront of the world with the unique, international certification of a sustainable supply chain for the shoes, the Sustainable Origin,” she said, pointing out that on day 2, was held an exclusive event for buyers in Dubai, and countries of the Persian Gulf, where they were presented with ten case studies of sustainability in Brazil's footwear industry. The participating companies were Beira Rio, Grendene, Usaflex, Bibi, Ramarim, Pegada, Klin, Piccadilly, Kidy and Urban Flowers. "On this day, we received more than 40 buyers, most of them from Dubai, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.

Grendene's trader Diego Barbieri points out that the exhibition has caught the attention of local buyers. "The participation was very good, it generated new opportunities, with unprecedented leads that we will work on in the coming days”, he evaluated. Trader for the Middle East from Beira Rio, Fábio Oliveira added: "Even after our event, on Day 2, I was at the event and witnessed many consumers looking and analyzing the shoes on display. Being at Expo Dubai has brought image gains for the company." For Usaflex' export manager Jefferson Berz, more than visibility, the event brought business results.

Sustainable Origin
Also present at the event, Abicalçados' project manager, Cristian Schlindwein, presented Sustainable Origin, an international certification in the footwear sector. According to him, the certification meets a demand of the Brazilian and World Consumer. "More and more consumers are paying attention not only to the origin, but to the profile of the brands and companies they buy, and this has been directly impacting the selection criteria of international buyers,” he said.

Based on sustainability international best practices, Sustainable Origin follows indicators of five dimensions: economic, environmental, social, cultural and sustainability management and has been gaining visibility not only in Brazil, but in the international market. With audits accredited by SGS, Bureau Veritas, ABNT and Senai, the certification has four evolution levels: Bronze (for companies that meet the minimum of 20% to 30% of the proposed indicators), Silver (40%), Gold (60%) and Diamond (80%). The Sustainable Origin already has names such as Vulcabras, Piccadilly, Bibi, Beira Rio, Boxprint and Caimi & Liaison certified, and more than 50 others in the process of implementation, as is the case of Schutz, Usaflex, Ramarim, Via Marte, Redeplast, Calçados Ala, Bebecê.

Export incentive program developed by Abicalçados in partnership with Apex-Brazil, aiming to increase exports of Brazilian footwear brands through development, commercial promotion and image actions aimed at the international market.

Apex-Brazil is the Brazilian agency for the promotion of exports and investments focused on promoting Brazilian products and services abroad and attract foreign investments to strategic sectors of the Brazilian economy. To achieve these objectives, Apex-Brazil carries out diversified commercial promotion actions aimed at promoting exports and valuing Brazilian products and services abroad, such as prospective and commercial missions, Business rounds, support to the participation of Brazilian companies in major international fairs, visits by foreign buyers and opinion makers.