The central Italian region of Toscana on Nov. 11 decided to provide 250,000 EUR (350,000 USD) for a project to be carried out in 2010 to develop Vietnam’s leather and footwear industries.

The project is under the cooperation framework between Toscana’s Economic Promotion Agency and the Vietnam Leather and Footwear Association.

Ninety percent of the project’s budget will come from the European Commission (EC).

The project is part of a series of initiatives on developing economic, trade and cultural cooperation between Toscana and Vietnam as well as creating opportunities for businesses from the region to penetrate the Vietnamese market.

With a strong leather and footwear industry, Toscana sees Vietnam as an ideal destination to do business.

Under the project, a group of Vietnamese entrepreneurs will visit Toscana next March./.