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14/10/2006
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Marmomacc: international visitors up by 12% -
40% international out of 65 thousand overall operators
Growth for all main parameters at the event - that recorded an overall increase in visits of 4% compared to last year. President Castelletti: "The exhibition is the world capital of stone"
Marmomacc further improved its international status to confirm its role as the landmark event in the natural stone industry. The 41st edition of the International Natural Stone and Technology Exhibition - that closed today at VeronaFiere after four days of meetings, contacts and trade - posted impressive figures: international visitors were up by 12% compared to last year, totalling almost 25 thousand from 112 countries - setting an historic record for the show.
Overall, there were 65 thousand professional operators (40% international), up by 4% over 2005. Other reference parameters were also positive: more than 1,500 exhibitors from 52 countries (+4%), over a net area of 70thousand square metres (+10%).
Such facts and figures clearly demonstrate the role of Marmomacc in promoting this important production segment, that in Italy boasts more than 11 thousand companies (and 60 thousand employees) with turnover in excess of 3 billion euro.
The event also welcomed 25 international delegations, including the official Pakistani delegation headed by Minister for Industry Khan Tareen, more than one thousand designers and architects (600 of whom selected by ICE, the National Institute for International Trade) and 15 official group shows - including in particular the German Association of marble-stone producers), attending Marmomacc for the first time with as many as 180 companies.
After the slow-down in recent years, the field is showing significant sign of recovery, as pointed out by many Italian and international operators.
"We are highly delighted with the outcome of the event," said Luigi Castelletti, President of VeronaFiere, "one of the best ever. It further expanded its international scope by attracting technicians and professionals from all over the world. We are making major efforts to upgrade the image of natural stone products - no longer as a static and cold element but as a dynamic and lightweight material that can be used as a "consumer commodity" in every home. The objective is to involve - thanks to a new culture of stone - companies, designers and the end consumers whose expenditure supports and justifies production activity."
"Through Marmomacc," added Giovanni Mantovani, Director General of VeronaFiere, "we equally help companies move into the most important markets - as is the case next 9 November in Las Vegas with StonExpo, the landmark event for the North American market. This year, for the first time, we welcomed a Chinese delegation organised by the Shanghai Stone Trade Association, that attended the event in order to purchase quality Italian products. China is a huge opportunity and may well become a fundamental outlet for our products."
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« Rétour
(Source: Verona Fiere)
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