ROMA (ITALPRESS) – Strengthening the collaboration between the main associations of the Italian trade fair system, enhancing the strategic role of trade fairs as an instrument of industrial policy and internationalization of enterprises, consolidating a unitary and authoritative representation towards national and international institutions. With these objectives Aefi (Italian Association and Exhibitions) and IT-EX (Italian Association of International Exhibitions), in accordance with their specific characteristics, today they have subscribed to the Mimit, in the presence of the Minister of Enterprises and Made in Italy, Adolfo Urso, a Letter of intent that gives follow and development to the protocol signed last September. The new document marks a further step forward in the path of collaboration between the two associations, defining a shared framework of work that involves the coordination of the activities of institutional representation, the start of joint operating tables and the evaluation of a possible path of aggregation, respecting the specificities and organizational models of the two realities.
The Letter of intent also establishes a Joint Coordination Committee of 12 members (six for each of the two associations) already designated by the two partners, with the task of developing the operational lines of the collaboration and drawing up structured proposals to be submitted to the deliberating bodies of the respective associations, with the aim of strengthening the Italian trade fair system and increasing its competitiveness at an international level. Giovanni Bozzetti will be chaired by Fondazione Fiera Milano.
“The collaboration between AEFI and IT-EX is a strategic step towards strengthening the Italian trade fair system, especially in an increasingly competitive international context – said Giovanni Bozzetti, president of Fondazione Fiera Milano and the Coordination Committee -. Since my settlement at the head of Fondazione Fiera Milano I felt that fragmentation was a limit and not a value. Today it is indispensable to overcome the logic of belonging and territorial opposition to build a fair system capable of working in a coordinated way, even among fairs of different cities. The Italian trade fair sector is worth approximately 1.4 billion euros, in front of the 4 billions of the German system: to fill this gap we have to make system and develop a shared vision.
On this path, the dialogue with the Institutions and the attention devoted to the sector in offices such as the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy are a key factor. The Coordinating Committee, which I am proud to preside, was born precisely with the aim of making this collaboration structural and transforming it into a growth engine for the competitiveness and internationalization of the Italian trade fair system”.
For the president of Aefi, Maurizio Danese: “The signature of today represents a decisive turning point towards a path of integration and a unitary representation of the Italian trade fair industry, fourth in the world and second in Europe. The geopolitical scenario imposes a strategic vision free from bells and unnecessary fragmentation. The Italian trade fair system is an indispensable lever for the growth of SMEs and internationalization policies for exports. Moreover, with its 22 billion total induced, it actively contributes to the development of the territories. From today, with IT-EX we share common objectives to enhance the competitiveness of trade fairs and organizers in favor of the Italian System in the world”.
“With the signature of this Letter of intent – said Raffaello Napoleone, president of IT-EX – we make a concrete step towards a more structured and continuous collaboration among the main representations of the Italian trade fair system.
In a complex economic and geopolitical context, trade fairs are a key tool to support the internationalization of enterprises, especially micro, small and medium-sized companies, and to promote Made in Italy on global markets. Strengthening dialogue and joint action with AEFI means equipping the sector with an even more authoritative voice towards the institutions and creating conditions to tackle future challenges together, enhancing skills, complementarity and strategic vision.”.
According to the delegates of the two associations the Committee, which will take place next February 24, will be composed: for the Association of Italian exhibitions and fairs Maurizio Danese (president and vice-president of the Committee), Simona Rapastella (vice-president Aefi and general director FederUnacoma), Pietro Piccinetti, (coordinator internationalization commission Aefi), Antonio Bruzzone groupfiere, Maurizio Renzo Erme For IT-EX: Raffaello Napoleone (president), Giovanni Bozzetti (president of Fondazione Fiera Milano), Antonio Intiglietta ( vice-president vicario IT-EX), Roberto Foresti (vice director general Fiera Milano), Massimiliano Pierini (managing director RX Italy) and Filippo Benedetti (responsible institutional relations of FederlegnoArredo).
– Photo D’Appolonio Photography –
(ITALPRESS).
