Peruvian shoemakers on the verge of bankruptcy due to social and political crisis
The group of producers that make up the Arequipa footwear industry not only supplies the southern part of Peru and the rest of the country, but they are also historical exporters to Chile and Bolivia, due to their geographical proximity.
Regarding Bolivia, the president of the Expo-Calzado association from Arequipa -Juan Chávez Farfán- explained that between 70% and 80% of the footwear in his region are destined for that neighboring country. However, in recent days they could not supply school shoes to that destination, given the imminent start of classes.
In this sense, manufacturers from Arequipa suffer the consequences of blocking the roads and everything that the protests that take place throughout the country entail.
At the local level, the impact on the industry is 100%, since the obstruction in the routes makes it impossible to transport the products. Added to this, the lack of supplies from the capital prevents the normal production of footwear, which also caused the Christmas season to be affected, according to what was detailed by the leader, to the radio network RPP Noticias.
The crisis in which the country is immersed, generates in turn that the producers of the sector can no longer sustain the situation and face the imminent danger of bankruptcy. For Chávez Farfán, the sector is in a context similar to that of a pandemic, and at a limit point, where they are evaluating the possibility of bartering shoes for food.
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