Minister Urso opens Marmomac 2024: “A model exhibition for the internationalization and innovation of the trade fair system”
“Marmomac is an example of both internationalization and innovation. It represents and valorises all segments in the natural stone and processing technology value chain. This is a sector of excellence for Made in Italy developed thanks to investments and the ability of companies to move on strategic markets. From this point of view, Marmomac is the model that other trade fairs in Italy should follow.” So said the Minister of Enterprise and Made in Italy, Adolfo Urso, at the inauguration of the 58th Marmomac – the landmark international exhibition for the natural stone industry scheduled at Veronafiere until 27 September.
Ribbon cutting ceremony at Marmomac 2024
With 1,485 exhibitors (68% international from 55 countries) and professional operators expected from more than 130 countries, 12 show halls and 4 outdoor areas for a total of more than 74,000 square metres to visit, the event confirms its status as the landmark event for the global natural stone and technology sector.
Marmomac is the expression of a sector of excellence for Made in Italy: this sector, according to official data analysed by the Confindustria Marmomacchine Study Centre, has 3,200 companies in Italy with 34,000 employees, turnover in 2023 of 4.5 billion euros, exports worth 3.2 billion euros, and a propensity for exports covering 71.2% of production for an active annual trade balance of over 2.7 billion euros.
The inauguration of Marmomac was attended by Luca Zaia, President of the Veneto Region, Damiano Tommasi, Mayor of Verona, and Flavio Massimo Pasini, President of the Province of Verona. Guests included the Consul General of Brazil in Milan, Radil da Rocha-Vianna, the Deputy Ambassador of India to Italy, Amararam Gujar, and the Minister for Industry and Commerce of the Indian state of Rajasthan, Krishan Kumar Vishnoi. Veronafiere was represented by Vice President, Matteo Gelmetti, Managing Director, Maurizio Danese, and CEO, Adolfo Rebughini.
The occasion also saw the presentation of research carried out by Nomisma for Marmomac – “Status and positioning of the Italian natural stone sector”. This was followed by speeches by Minister Urso, with Federico Bricolo, President of Veronafiere, Gianluca Pellegrino, President of Confindustria Marmomacchine, Matteo Zoppas, President of the ITA Trade Agency, Domenico De Angelis, co-CEO of Bpm, and Flávia Milaneze, President of Milanez & Milaneze.
Federico Bricolo, president of Veronafiere
“The Nomisma study highlights how exports and product quality are the strong points of the Italian natural stone sector, which in Marmomac finds its most effective promotional tool for growth on international markets,” said Federico Bricolo, President of Veronafiere. “Our natural stone exhibition is a hub that brings together the entire Italian natural stone system and can rely on input from companies, trade associations and institutions, joining forces through a single trade fair platform with an international outlook embracing Brazil, the United States and Asia. This successful example of collaboration sees Marmomac team up with Confindustria Marmomacchine, the ITA Trade Agency, the Ministry of Enterprise and Made in Italy, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.”
This partnership culminates in an incoming project for international buyers arriving from 44 countries, all selected and invited to attend Marmomac and take part in more than 4,000 B2B meetings during the Show, joined by customised training programmes that include lectures as well as visits to companies and quarries. The largest delegations this year come from the United States, India, Canada, China, Algeria, Ethiopia, Mexico, Pakistan, Poland, Chile, Indonesia, Malaysia, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, United Kingdom, Kenya, Vietnam and Taiwan.
Matteo Zoppas, president of ITA – Trade Agency
“Trade fairs are a fundamental occasion for companies and, in particular, SMEs,” said Matteo Zoppas, President of the ITA Trade Agency, “because the more the distribution perimeter expands, all the more vital it becomes to find opportunities to present products and maximise results in terms of capturing the interest of buyers. Today, trade fair platforms are evolving and moving with the times to become increasingly international – just as we are doing alongside Veronafiere with Vinitaly Chicago and Marmomac Brazil. We have invited than 180 international operators to attend Marmomac, including buyer companies as well as architecture and design studios, by now strategic targets for this high added-value sector.”
Natural stone is the main exponent of this trade fair in Verona throughout the entire process, from the quarry to processing into finished products, not to mention highly experimental applications in architecture and interior design fields. Marmomac is also a complete and updated showcase highlighting all the most advanced technologies, machinery and accessories for quarrying and processing marble, granite and ornamental stones. The exhibition also plays a crucial role in promoting creative and innovative applications use of natural stone through a series of collateral events that include shows, workshops and conferences.