The "Marko" shoe collection will be enriched with developments from Italian designers Baldinini

November 24, Vitebsk / Diana Kurilo - BELTA /. Designers and technologists of the footwear enterprise "Marko" will undergo an internship at the Italian company "Baldinini S.r.l.", the General Director of the joint limited liability company "Marko" Nikolai Martynov informed a BELTA correspondent. In addition, the "Marko" "Autumn-Winter-2010" collection will be supplemented with elite footwear, created with the participation of Italian designers from "Baldinini S.r.l.". These are the preliminary agreements reached between the two footwear companies. As Nikolai Martynov noted, this is the first step towards cooperation, in which both Belarusian and Italian shoemakers are interested. According to him, the Italian partners intend to train Belarusian specialists within a year, and then proceed to the next stage of implementing a joint project for the production of high-quality leather footwear in Belarus, possibly under the Baldinini brand. At the end of October this year, the company's president Jimmy Baldinini got acquainted with the work of "Marko", highly appreciated the technological equipment of the enterprise and expressed interest in business contacts. The joint limited liability company "Marko" is one of the largest footwear manufacturers in Belarus. According to the results of 9 months of this year, the production volume growth rate was 112%. Sales increased by 2% compared to the same period in 2008. More than 50% of footwear is exported to Russia. The "Marko" enterprise was founded in 1991, and employs over 3,000 people. In addition to footwear production, "Marko" includes enterprises for the production of leather goods and shoe lasts for enterprises in the republic. The company "Baldinini" was founded in 1910 in the city of San Mauro Pascoli (Italy), where its main production facilities are still located. It produces high-quality elite leather footwear in the mid and upper price categories for men and women, as well as leather accessories. The products are distinguished by their exquisite design and are among the most prestigious in Europe and the world. The turnover of "Baldinini S.r.l." averages about 50 million euros per year. The company employs over 300 people. 80% of the manufactured products are intended for export. A monobrand distribution network Baldinini has been established in the CIS and Eastern European markets. -0-