Organized in collaboration with ICE at the Dom Priemov palace in the economic capital of Kazakhstan from 5 to 7 April, the former event brought 32 Italian footwear and leather goods brands together with 180 buyers coming from all the provinces of Kazakhstan, and from Uzbekistan, Kirghizstan and Tajikistan.  The rise in participation contrasts with the export data registered the year before (compared to 2015, -14.7% in quantity and -21% in value, for 23.3 million euro), and is a concrete sign that Made in Italy has once again become a point of reference for the fashion market of this area.

Shoes from Italy Almaty also saw the creation of a program of incentives by ICE, which were dedicated to attracting the very best Central Asian buyers.

Assocalzaturifici next made a stop in Kiev, the capital of the Ukraine, where on 12 and 13 April, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, the Shoes from Italy Kiev workshop was organized, reuniting 35 businesses from the footwear, leather goods, and leather and fur outerwear sectors with 120 buyers.  The positive attendance numbers were coherent with Italian export numbers, which rose in 2016 by 30% in value for 50 million euro:  the Ukraine market accordingly waits for its uncertain political situation (and resulting economic one) to end, in order to express its full potential and its preference for Made in Italy.