More than 1,500 companies from 58 countries (+77 exhibitors over 2013), the entire exhibition centre occupied (all 12 halls), 45 official trade delegations, buyers and operators expected from over 140 countries.
These are the facts and figures for the 49th
Claimed to be the most important global event dedicated to the stone industry (from machinery to finished products) it is being held for the first time in conjunction with Abitare il Tempo (more than 80 exhibitors), the b2b exhibition for contract professionals involved with materials, interior finishes and furnishings.
Both events will be inaugurated today by Carlo Calenda, Deputy Minister of Economic Development, and Giorgio Squinzi, President of Confindustria. They will be joined by Luca Zaia, Governor of the Veneto Region; Giovanni Miozzi, President of the Province of Verona; Flavio Tosi, Mayor of Verona; Ettore Riello and Giovanni Mantovani, respectively President and CEO of Veronafiere. The ceremony will also be attended by the Consul General of Morocco, El Khdar Ahmed.
With 3,340 production, processing and technology companies, Italy is the fifth country in the world in the natural stone sector, generating a total turnover of almost €4 billion euros (€3.9 billion, +2.2% over 2012), with an export quota in excess of 70%. In the first six months of the year it posted €1.4 billion (technologies and products). The sector has 33,700 employees, 27,000 of whom are involved in production.
Exports also sustain the Italian furniture industry (+5% in 2013) which continues to suffer at home because of the recession and falling consumption. In 2013 the sector posted a turnover of €17 billion euros (-2.8%) with domestic consumption down (-11%), as well as employment (206,500, -3.6%) and the number of active businesses (29,700, -5.3%).
However, Italy is still the largest producer in Europe and third worldwide after China and the United States, holding 6% of the total furniture production and 9% of global furniture exports.
“The presence of the Deputy Minister of Economic Development and the President of Confindustria testifies to the attention the country-system pays to these two sectors, natural stone and furniture, that represent the manufacturing excellence of Made in Italy, complement each other in the value chain and respectively rank fifth and third among worldwide manufacturers,” says Ettore Riello.
Giovanni Mantovani said : “This year we have further strengthened our international expansion, thereby consolidating our role as the leading natural stone centre in the world. In addition to traditional Marmomacc appointments in the United States, Brazil, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Morocco, in 2014 we have launched a new initiative in Oman, and in December, thanks to the new-found stability of the country, we will travel to Egypt with MS Africa and Middle East, the Marmomacc and
