Percept executes 19th UITIC International Technical Footwear Congress

Percept Sports and Entertainment, the Strategic Business Unit of Percept One, bagged the mandate of managing and executing the 19th International Technical Footwear Congress of UITIC (International Union of Shoe Industry Technicians). The spectacular three day show took place on 3rd, 4th, and 5th February, 2016 at ITC Grand Chola, Chennai.

Hosted in India, the 19th International Technical Footwear Congress of UITIC saw the participation of over 550 delegates from around the globe including France, Mexico, Germany, Pakistan, Bangladesh, China, Madagascar, Tanzania, Hong Kong, Spain, ‘Ethiopia, Iran, Colombia, Portugal, Srilanka, Romania, UK, Austria, Hungary, Taiwan, India.

The UITIC has been a pioneer in the dissemination of technical developments and knowledge in the footwear industry by facilitating information exchanges between its members. UITIC’s main activity is to organize an International Technical Footwear Congress which addresses the latest technical issues and problems.

The Percept Sports and Entertainment team handled the massive task of conceptualizing, designing, and implementing the entire event. PSE was responsible for handling the 360° scope of work encompassing planning, branding, logistics, hospitality of the delegates, executing and technical production of the entire congress.

The congress showcased an exhibition area with over 20 international and national exhibitors displaying their products. The event further saw a poster wall area with 40 odd visual presentations across the globe displaying their projects.

Their aim was to bring together a representative sampling of the international footwear industry with professionals and experts from nearly 30 countries, including 174 foreign attendees from outside India. It proposed 30 presentations and a total of 35 technical posters. There were over 596 participants congregated for the event which saw a huge discussion on topics about “The future footwear factory.”

The weeklong affair culminated with a gala dinner which saw the delegates interacting and increasing their connectivity and networks which was followed by a cultural programme which was also handled by Percept Sports and Entertainment team.

The 19th UITIC Congress was coming to India for the first time after being held in European countries for the most part previously. The Govt had mandated certain minimum number of Overseas & Domestic Delegates so we were under pressure on different aspects of organizing the Congress. Funding support was to be mobilized to organize the Congress to professional standards on a grand scale. We had a few worries at certain points of time during the lead up to the Congress but the delivery and end-product by Percept was Excellent! Ms Francoise Nicolas, General Secretary-UITIC has thanked & congratulated the “Percept Team”!! Chairman-CLE has remarked that Percept never said No although CLE came up with many new / previously not-discussed requirements.” said Sunanda Santappa, Assistant Director, CLE (Council Leather Exports)


Commenting on the grand success of the event, Mr. Sameer Sethi, Associate Vice President, Percept Sports, and Entertainment said, “It’s been an honor to work on this event which has been gigantic in stature and incredible in repute. It was a great opportunity to mandate the account of this massive event, as it was the first time since 1972 that the congress was held in India. It took us almost 8 months to plan and execute this colossal event. It’s great to see that the Percept team has pulled off this event successfully and ensured superb hospitality that vowed the delegates from all over the world.”