Hanoi - Almost 30 Italian companies, together with Italian Trade Agency (ITA) and ASSOMAC showcase their latest technologies and products at the 19th International Shoes & Leather Exhibition-Vietnam, which lasts until 14 July, in Ho Chi Minh city of Vietnam, according to local newspapers. Organized by Vietnam Leather and Footwear Association and Top Repute Company, the 19th International Shoe & Leather Exhibition is expected to attract more than 15,000 professional buyers seeking business opportunities of global industrial technology, shoe making and tanning machinery, leathers & materials, shoe components & accessories, finished products and chemicals. According to the organisers, the exhibition will be a favorable occasion for Italian and Vietnamese leather and footwear enterprises to meet and exchange information on the leather and footwear sector of each country as well to seek partners, promote export, expand the market. The participation of Italian companies, such as Huni, Alc, Atom, Comelz, Lamebo and many others, reflects the growing interest of Italian footwear and leather manufacturing companies in the Vietnamese market. Leather and footwear has always been among areas of top? ?interest for Italian investors in the Vietnamese market, the exhibition organisers said. On this occasion, the Italy-Vietnam footwear research and development center, sponsored by Italian Trade Agency & Assosmac, will be launched in Binh Duong province of Vietnam in which Italy will provide machinery, software, and the knowledge support to Vietnam. With the capacity of more than 12,000 square meters, the international exhibition hosts pavilions from various countries such as Italy, Germany, Taiwan, Korea, Europe, Asia, Argentina and many other countries to visit and find partners from Vietnam. At the sideline of the exhibition this year, a number of seminars will be also organized on the topic of the latest technology and recent fashion trend on shoe & leather industries. In 2016, Vietnam spent $180 million to import Italian leather, which indicates that Vietnamese footwear exporters are climbing up the value chain. Last year, as many as 500 shoes and leather producers and suppliers from 27 countries showcased their latest technologies and products and an estimate of 10,000 visitors participated in the 18th International Shoes & Leather Exhibition-Vietnam.