Hats off to participants in SILA exhibition for their strong determination to face challenges

“Challenge” is the title of the 15th session of the  SILA International Exhibition for Shoes and Leather (Spring & Summer 2023), which kicked off last Thursday in Damascus International Fairground city with the participation of 55  local and Arab companies.

This title reflects the strong determination of the participating local companies to go ahead with their work despite the negative effects of western sanctions on Syria and the major earthquake that hit the country on the 6th of last month.

Syria Times e-newspaper interviewed several participants and Arab visitors to shed light on the importance of the event and the outcomes of the previous ones.

Mr. Sohel Al-Agha from The “A G” Company in Aleppo said that this is the first participation of his company in the exhibition as he was going as visitor to the previous ones.

“More than 20 companies came from Aleppo province to take part in this event despite the fact that the industrial process in the province was affected by the quake as most of the workshops were in the popular areas that were toppled. Over 1000  workshops are no longer working,” he added.

Among these companies that came from Aleppo is the “Al-Bayan” Company for the manufacture of women’s bags and shoes, which is also taking part in such an event for the first time.

“The goal of our participation in the exhibition is to promote our products…..Before the start of the crisis in the country ( in 2011), we were exporting our products to Libya and Iraq…. Now we face difficulties in exportation  because of sanctions being imposed on the country,” Mr. Mohammad Hanifa told us, indicating that his company was established in 2003 in Aleppo.

Mr. Hanifa in addition clarified that the problems that hinder the industrial process are the import of raw materials and the lack of electricity and fuel to operate the factories.

For his part, Mr. Median Sharba’e from the ”Alsharba’e” Company for Manufacturing Shoes in Hama province told us: “ This is our 10th participation in SILA exhibitions. In this session, the number of participants increased and we hope that the situation of industry in our country will be better.”

While, Mr. Ali Haidar from Al-Shaddad Company for Manufacturing Shoes, which was established in 1927 in Tartous province said: “ The exhibition is an opportunity to display the modern technology that we developed in our work, which is represented by foot-scan system that help design models that are comfortable to walk for those who suffer from foot problems such as: diabetic foot and flat foot.”

He indicated that this type of medical shoes is sold at a  discount to injured people.

“Our workshop is located in the village of Broumana Raad in the countryside of Sheikh Badr city….It is one of the oldest shoe-making workshops in Tartous, and it provides job opportunities for more than 100 people and manufactures high-quality national product as well as trains anyone who wants to gain experience in the shoe industry.” Mr. Haidar said.

The four-day event is considered an important opportunity for the participating Arab companies and visitors.

Mr. Alaa Younis from the “ Alameh Forme for Wooden & Plastic Shoe molds in Lebanon, said that his company took part in all previous sessions of SILA exhibition.

“Our delegation is composed of 6 people and this event is very important to show our products. In the previous session, a Palestinian delegation took part in the event for the first time and this is very good for us as Arabs.

Mr. Maamon Shweki, the head of the Palestinian delegation, said that the delegation’s members are coming to the exhibition as visitors to have an idea about Syrian products with the aim of supporting Syria through buying products.

The exhibition conveyed a message to the whole world that no matter what difficult circumstances Syrian industrialist face, they will be able to live with dignity and honor.

Reported by: Basma Qaddour