+8% for International attendance at Marmomacc from more than 130 Countries
Source Veronafiere Press Office

Higher attendance by operators from Arab countries, India, China, Iran and France; while visitors from the USA and Germany are among the most loyal. Overall, exhibition attracted attendance by more than 56 thousand people (an improvement over 2010), with more than 50% from as many as 130 countries. There were also even more exhibiting countries. There was satisfaction among entrepreneurs in the various fields characterising the sector and in some spheres there was stronger demand for duties to promote fair competition and safeguard European production.

Marmomacc confirmed its role as the leading world platform for trade and promotion of culture in the natural stone field. The 2011 edition of the exhibition closed this evening after four days of shows and events involving more than 1500 exhibitors from 60 countries (eight countries more than in 2010), with an increase of 8% in attendance by international operators including significant growth for Arab countries, India, China, Iran and France, while visitors from the USA and Germany are among the most loyal.

"This is a very important result, especially in times like these of major difficulties for the European and international economy, and demonstrates that exhibitions are one of the few engines entirely at the service of the real economy," said the President of Veronafiere, Ettore Riello, who is also a member of the board of AEFI, the Italian exhibition centres association. International events are an extraordinary platform for our companies. This is why stronger collaboration and alliance with all institutions is vital in order to provide further opportunities for this sector. MARMOMACC over four days attracted operators from as many as 130 countries, with an increase despite the crisis in the international share of 8% over 2010, with exhibitors from 60 countries, 20 international group shows and 30 trade delegations: this is how to implement industrial policy".

Important institutional attendance: the exhibition was inaugurated by Catia Polidori, under-secretary for company internationalisation and trade policies at the Ministry for Economic Development and equally attracted impressive institutional attendance - such as the visit by Rajendra Pareek, Minister of Industry, Rajasthan State Government (India), the Indian Consul General, Sanjay Kumar Verma, the Ambassador of the Republic of Iraq in Italy, Saywan Barzani, the Ambassador of Oman Said Al Harthy, the Minister of Culture of Georgia, Nikolaz Rurua, and the President of IMMIB, the Turkish association of mineral exporters, Mehmet Ozer.

In general, comments by exhibitors and visitors confirmed that the sector is experiencing an up and down period, with markets enjoying strong growth (China, India, Brazil and Turkey to mention but four) and others still remaining stagnant. There is a general trend in favour of quality products, be they processed stone or machinery. Italian companies and their European counterparts, on the other hand, launched an appeal to the political world to resolve the problem of duties which is severely distorting the market: duties which Europe does not apply to its international products but which many other producer countries implement - even with very high percentages - to defend their own products. This is not a question of protectionism, but of fair and equal conditions. Yet, overall, the climate seen in the halls was good, as confirmed by the comments of a number of companies specialising in finished products.

"For us, Marmomacc has always been a very important showcase," said Massimo Serni of Henraux, the historical Tuscan company, "we believe that Italian quality and creativity pay off in the end; slabs alone do not take you very far - you need a brand. The international market is fundamental for us but we are proud of being Italian and have decided to keep our company here, since we also have social responsibilities. Having said this, India, China and Arab countries are very important markets for us, on a par with the United States: and here, above all, it would be a good idea for Europeans to impose more reasonable payment times, especially now that the banking system is tighter".

"The exhibition was very successful, with attendance by genuinely interested people," said Alessandra Malagoli of Budri. "Marmomacc is the reference exhibition for us, even though our products go far beyond marble. We work extensively on the Russian and Arab markets and what we present here exceeds the requirements of our clients; we do this because we enjoy and what to be bold and daring. From a commercial point of view, Israel and London are also important markets. We are now focusing on the United States - we have been involved in two hotels in Las Vegas, where there is very strong demand for design: everything we have implemented over the last three years with Patricia Urquiola is highly appreciated".

"We encountered good interest and is this thanks not the least to the quality of our products," said Tomas Brolin, general manager of Testi Fratelli; "in any case, international clients also seek Made in Italy in this sector as a kind of compulsory route: we can no longer think in terms of mass products but high quality, niche output. There is definitely strong interest in this sphere: it is difficult to define the future of the market: for example, on the one hand, the US market seems to be dead yet on the other is showing signs of vitality. It all depends on the products. We have a company in Brazil and despite the fact that this has been one of the worst years for real estate in the USA we are experiencing today our best year in absolute terms for exports from Brazil to America: we have decided to work with top-of-the-range materials and this is working very well".

There was also positive feedback from machinery producers: "Marmomacc this year went better than last year: there were many professional visitors and we encountered considerable interest in multi-wire cutting machines," said Marco Balotti of Pedrini. "The markets showing signs of vitality are Brazil, India and countries in the Arab world, while others are still at a standstill".

"We worked intensely right from the first morning with many visits and there seems to be a desire to get going again," said Sergio Saronni, Sales Director Italy at Breton. "In recent years, we saw the need to look abroad, faced by a stagnant domestic market, but this should not necessarily be seen as something negative. Breton always seeks to improve its products and recently took over Bidese Impianti to add the wire cutting sector which we did not cover beforehand".

"We are pleased: we only have to look at the list of contacts we made here at Marmomacc," said Giancarlo Tonini member of the executive committee of MarmiCarrara, "and the encouraging prospects: even countries with lower attendance this year, such as several in North Africa, made initial requests for machinery in order to resume operations. In general terms, I would say that Marmomacc saw a stronger emphasis on quality products and demand for quarries that can assure certain production volumes over time".

Among companies offering products for stone processing, Mapei and Fila are two very well-known names: "Our impression of this edition of Marmomacc is undoubtedly positive and we have welcomed numerous visitors and important contacts from Italy and abroad," said Metella Iacovello of Mapei. "In general, our group has grown in recent months and this means that the building industry is providing some signs of vitality".

"The event went very well for us, with contacts with Italian clients and approaches involving new clients," said the President of Fila Industrie Chimiche, Beniamino Pettenon, "while the international market also provided positive signals. We welcomed a great many visitors. We work a great deal in France, Germany and Great Britain and are very attentive as regards a number of emerging markets in Eastern Europe; moving further east, India is also offers very important opportunities. In terms of exports, the Middle East is also very significant for us. China is a major opportunity but we are still currently analysing our initial approach to this immense market".

More information at www.marmomacc.it

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