Abstract
An imminent free-trading agreement with the USA puts Mexico's footwear industry in a position to increase its export trade enormously. The industry is dominated by small firms which are limited, however, by unstable supplies and little knowledge of the export market. This article, describing the results of a survey, reveals how some firms have attempted to overcome these limitations by developing backward and forward linkages with suppliers and with retailers. It also describes the important role of the associations of entrepreneurs in providing training, credit unions, and the exchange of information essential for the footwear industry developing as a system.

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