Germany: More light than shade, says HDS

摘要

At the most recent edition of GDS and Global Shoes, the German Shoe Industry Association (HDS) sought to allay fears about the future of the German footwear sector during its detailed press conference. While it presented unsurprisingly mixed figures for 2008 and attempted to predict what will play out in 2009, cautious optimism prevailed.rnIntroducing the conference, director of GDS and Global Shoes, Kirstin Deutelmoser, said: "It is astonishing how much the world can change in just six months. Last time we met [at the September 2008 edition of GDS], there were only hints of a crisis, but now it is part and parcel of daily life. The downturn will not change for some time, but we must find positives. While the world is talking about crisis, we are looking for ways to defy the crisis."