The 48th edition of Marmomacc begins

The ceremony was attended by the Deputy Minister for Economic Development, Carlo Calenda, the Regional Councillor for Employment, Elena Donazzan, the President of the Province of Verona, Giovanni Miozzi, the Mayor of Verona, Flavio Tosi, and the President of Veronafiere, Ettore Riello. Marmomacc boasts well over 1,400 exhibitors from 60 countries, 16 international group attendances, 44 foreign trade delegations and professional operators from more than 130 countries.

Italian export figures highlight a marble-stone sector which is very competitive abroad, thanks to extraordinary efforts on markets that has filled the gap caused by slow domestic demand. This means that the manufacturing fabric is consolidated and it is therefore the duty of the Government to stand alongside companies and initiatives such as Marmomacc in their growing internationalisation efforts in one of Italy@¬#s high-tech sectors. So said this morning the Deputy Minister for Economic Development with responsibility for internationalisation, Carlo Calenda, during the inauguration of the 48th edition of Marmomacc, the most important international exhibition dedicated to natural stone, design and technologies open at the Verona Exhibition Centre until Saturday 28 September.

Calenda then focused on the machinery and processing technologies sector, defining it as excellence made in Italy based on constant innovation and summarised the plan of action to ensure even greater impetus for the export sector, based on increased funds for foreign trade, new trade missions and efforts to reduce tariff and non-tariff barriers that still affect Italian and European products.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony for Marmomacc 2013 was also attended the Regional Councillor for employment, Elena Donazzan – who expressed the greetings of Regional President Luca Zaia, the President of the Province of  Verona, Giovanni Miozzi, the Mayor of Verona, Flavio Tosi, and the President of Veronafiere, Ettore Riello. The ceremony was also attended by the Regional Councillors for Public Works, Massimo Giorgetti, and for the Environment, Maurizio Conte, and the CEO & Director General of Veronafiere, Giovanni Mantovani. World figure skating champion Carolina Kostner was also present in her role as testimonial of the event.

After 48 editions, Marmomacc once again confirms its status as world leader for the promotion of the natural stone system with well over 1,400 exhibitors from 60 countries, 16 international group attendances, 44 foreign trade delegations and professional operators from more than 130 countries, said the President of Veronafiere, Ettore Riello. Satisfaction over the initial feedback after the inauguration of the event was expressed by the CEO & Director General of Veronafiere, Giovanni Mantovani: Despite the period of general crisis, the stone sector has chosen to attend Marmomacc once again. All 12 halls and outdoor areas of the Exhibition Centre are occupied and there are even newcomers among foreign exhibitors from Singapore, Slovenia and Ireland.

The natural stone field boasts 35,000 jobs in Italy, said the Veneto Region Councillor for Employment, Elena Donazzan, with companies characterised by great traditions for which Marmomacc has always ensured important support. Veneto exports have improved by 8% and the exhibition system has proven capable of helping and accompanying companies in this challenge.

The President of the Province of Verona, Giovanni Miozzi, recalled the importance of the Verona Stone and Marble District as the leading exporter in Italy and one of the pillars of the local economy. The Mayor of Verona, Flavio Tosi, lastly, spoke of the value of system-building at a time of crisis on the home market: We must make every effort, he said, to ensure that everyone, at every institutional level, provides fast answers to the demands expressed by the country as a whole, especially in an sector such as marble which already stands as a true excellence of Made in Italy.

Marmomacc on the smartphone
The new official APP with all information about the Show and scheduled events in the impressive Marmomacc programme is available through Apple Store and Google Play. The Marmomacc APP is organised around two functional macro areas with dedicated services for exhibitors and visitors provided through simple and intuitive interactions.

For example, users can search for exhibitors in the electronic catalogue and locate them graphically on the Exhibition Centre map that can be navigated in touch screen mode. For visitors, the various functions integrated into the app include a digital agenda which can be used to make appointments with exhibitors. The QRCode reader, lastly, can be used to store (and retrieve later) all contacts established during the visit to the exhibition.

* For further information: www.veronafiere.it / www.marmomacc.com