PFI’s Managing Director Candice Wang welcomed the honorable guest Mr. Manfred Junkert, Managing Director Federal Association of the German Footwear and Leather Goods Industry (HDSL).

Together, they attended two valuable events that brought together stakeholders from the entire value-chain from various countries.

On May 27^th, the Confederation of International Footwear associations (CIFA) hosted the 38th International Footwear Conference (IFC) 2019 in Guangzhou, China. Mr. Junkert presented recent “Developments in the European Footwear Sector”, highlighting current trends and challenges in Europe and how to approach them.

The purpose and the vision of the IFC is to connect Footwear Associations across various countries for exchanging business information among members and to work together for a better tomorrow of the footwear industry.

Subsequently, Mr. Junkert and Mrs. Wang attended the 29^th Shoes & Leather Guangzhou Exhibition on 29^th May. Together they presented about “Sustainable Shoe Production – chemical, social and environmental requirements in shoe production according to CADS”.

CADS stands for the “cooperation for assuring defined standards for shoe- and leather goods production e.V.”. In short, the organisation has the purpose to secure the quality of footwear and leather goods, to distinguish footwear and leather goods whose quality is secured with a quality label. Further, the organisation engages in public relations work for the manufacture and marketing of sustainable, non-toxic, environmentally compatible shoes, shoe materials and leather goods with social responsibility.