The MICAM fair, held in Milan from September 13th to 15th, brought together 44 companies from the Valencian Community's footwear sector, representing half of the Spanish delegation. Of these, 42 hail from Alicante, with 30 from Elche, and 2 from Valencia.
The Director General for Entrepreneurship and Internationalization, Mónica Payá, highlighted the significance of this event for the local industry. "The presence of 44 companies from the Valencian Community at MICAM, half of the Spanish delegation, is a magnificent demonstration of the weight and strength of our footwear sector," stated Payá, adding that the objective is to "do business, open markets, and generate new opportunities for our companies."
Payá, accompanied by the president of the Spanish Footwear Industries Federation and AVECAL, Vicente Pastor, and the general secretary of AVECAL, María Ángeles López Rico, toured the stands of the Valencian companies. She emphasized that footwear is a strategic industry for the region, particularly in Alicante, with a "clearly international dimension."
The Ministry of Industry supports the sector through grants for internationalization, reindustrialization, and research. Since 2024, the Directorate General for Industry has awarded 7.4 million euros via the Inpyme grants, as part of the 2024-2028 Reindustrialization Strategy. Additionally, Ivace+i Innovación has allocated 5.4 million euros to the technological center Inescop for R&D projects, and 4.7 million euros have been dedicated to internationalization in the last two years.
The 102nd edition of MICAM featured 88 Spanish exhibitors and 109 brands, presenting collections for the Spring-Summer 2027 season. Spain solidifies its position as the second country with the most exhibitors, following Italy.
Payá remarked that "behind every pair of shoes lies design, innovation, knowledge, suppliers, employment, and a value chain that generates wealth." In 2025, the Valencian Community exported products worth 1,137 million euros, remaining the top exporting region in Spain, with Germany, France, and Italy as the primary destinations.
MICAM, which hosts 758 brands with 50% international representation from 29 countries, is held concurrently with MIPEL (bags and accessories), Milano Fashion & Jewels, and TheOneMilano. Lineapelle/SIMAC will take place from September 15th to 17th.
