Events

Portuguese footwear industry received at the United Nations

Jun 22, 2026 Portugal

At a United Nations session in New York, the Portuguese footwear industry emphasised its continued investment in innovation, sustainability, and technological development

On the 29^thof May, the Portuguese footwear industry gathered at the United Nations in New York for a session dedicated to the challenges and opportunities currently shaping the sector on a global scale. The session took place in a context particularly influenced by Asia’s growing share of world production.

The meeting, organised by AICEP, was attended by APICCAPS (the Portuguese Footwear, Components and Leather Goods Manufacturers' Association) and CTCP (the Portuguese Footwear Technology Centre), and provided an opportunity to present the Portuguese cluster’s vision for a more innovative, sustainable and technologically advanced industrial model on an international landscape.

The main investments currently underway within the Portuguese footwear cluster were presented during the meeting, particularly the projects developed under the Bioshoes4all programme, regarded as one of the largest transformation movements ever undertaken by the national footwear industry. Bringing together companies, universities, technology centres and scientific institutions, the project focuses on new sustainable, digital and high value-added solutions and has attracted the attention of the United Nations, which now intends to present it as a ‘Case Study’.

The Portuguese delegation highlighted the collective effort the sector has been making in the fields of circular economy, new materials research, industrial automation and technological capacity building, reinforcing Portugal’s position as one of the international benchmarks in responsible footwear production.

“Today, Portugal does not compete on price. It competes through creativity, technology, quality and the ability to anticipate the demands of international consumers”, said Luís Onofre, President of APICCAPS. However, “it is important to recognise the excessive weight of the Asian continent in the sector, creating significant imbalances in free, fair and balanced trade”.

Luísa Correia, representing CTCP, also highlighted the strategic dimension of the investments underway. “Bioshoes4all demonstrates how cooperation between companies, technology centres and universities can accelerate industrial transformation. We are building new capabilities and new solutions to address the environmental and technological challenges facing the world”, she noted.

Portugal’s presence at the UN has therefore helped to reinforce the international visibility of its footwear industry, which exports over 90% of its production to more than 170 countries. This has also strengthened the country's position as a global partner in innovative, sustainable fashion solutions. In recent years, the industry implemented an unprecedented set of investments, supported by the Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP), aimed at the digitalisation, sustainability and internationalisation of companies.

Carlos Moura, Director of AICEP’s New York Office, also highlighted the joint work carried out with APICCAPS to make this institutional presence possible. “AICEP has been an active partner of APICCAPS in building closer ties with the United Nations in New York, promoting opportunities for dialogue, visibility and cooperation for Portuguese companies. The recognition shown by the UN regarding the projects transforming the Portuguese footwear industry confirms that Portugal now has a distinctive and relevant value proposition on a global scale”.

The session at the United Nations concluded with a message of confidence regarding the future of the Portuguese footwear industry, reinforcing the idea that innovation, sustainability and international cooperation will be decisive factors for the sector’s growth over the next decade and an example for the future.

Source and Image Credits: portugueseshoes.pt

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