MARMOMACC 2015 - Findings of the International Stone Summit

09.10.2015

INTERNATIONAL NATURAL STONE ASSOCIATIONS CONFIRM SIGNS OF RECOVERY IN THE WORLD ECONOMY AND ATTENTION TO THE SEARCH FOR QUALITY

ITALY RECOGNISED AS A LEADER IN DESIGN, PROCESSING AND TECHNOLOGY

The first World Natural Stone Conference is one of the leading initiatives at Marmomacc developed as part of the Special Made in Italy Promotion Plan by the Ministry of Economic Development, in collaboration with ICE-Agency for international promotion and internationalisation of Italian companies and Confindustria Marmomacchine.

Verona, October 2015 – Unanimous international chorus on the part of natural stone associations: the global economic is recovering and there is an increasing focus on the quality of stone materials even in relatively new productive areas. While Italy was and still is a landmark for the entire industry, with special emphasis on design, processed products and technologies.

Briefly, these are findings that emerged during the International Stone Summit, which completed its sessions last Thursday, 1 October, during the 50th Marmomacc, the landmark international event for natural stone business and culture which took place from 30 September to 3 October at Veronafiere.

The International Stone Summit is the first World Natural Stone Conference and one of the leading initiatives at Marmomacc developed as part of the Special Made in Italy Promotion Plan by the Ministry of Economic Development, in collaboration with ICE-Agency for international promotion and internationalisation of Italian companies and Confindustria Marmomacchine.

"Held for the first time ever, this two-day Summit of world associations could hardly not have taken place anywhere else than Marmomacc and its 50th edition; the event has confirmed its exceptional level of internationalism with 70% of total exhibitors arriving from 55 countries, 55% of professional operators from more than 140 countries and 55 official trade delegations from 55 different countries," said Diego Valsecchi, Sales Director at Veronafiere.

"Our sector has strong export vocation which generates 80% of turnover," said Stefano Ghirardi, President of Confindustria Marmomacchine. Our companies have proven capable of reorganising and restructuring their operations, setting themselves goals and motivations in order to tackle recessionary trends and international competition. Such high-level comparison as made possible during the Summit has helped us discover new areas and explore new opportunities."

On her part, Ines Aronadio, Head of the Consumer Goods Office of ICE, the Summit and all the other initiatives linked with incoming buyers and foreign architects "helped significantly improve knowledge and awareness of the intrinsic qualities of natural stone products and related Italian technologies and how to use and apply them with construction methods in the respective countries of all attendees."

During the sessions, reports based on personal experience and knowledge of various sectors in their respective countries were made by Qin Jun, vice president of the Yunfu Stone Association, Josè Luis Lee Moreno, Coordinator of the Regional Offices of the Mexican Geological Service), Stijn Reiner, vice president of ASBL (Pierres et Marbres de Wallonie), Maher Hushaysh, director of the Palestine Union of Stone and Marble Industry, Joachim Grüter, president of the Deutscher Naturwerkestein-Verband (DNV), Tobias Eckardt, president of Euroroc and membrr of Naturstein-Verband Schweiz (NVS), Kristof Callebaut, president of the Union des Carrieres et Scieries de Marbres de la Belgique, Reinaldo Dantas Sampaio, president of Abirochas, Sri S. Sekar, president of the of Indian Granite & Stone Industry (FIGSI), David Castellucci, president of the Marble Institute of America (MIA), Graeme Hadden, president of the Stone Federation of Great Britain, Dmitry Medyantsev, president of the Stone Industry Association of Russia (Center Stone), Bogumas Solima, vice president of the Stone Industry Employers Association of Poland, Sorin Radu Deji, president of the Asociatia Pietrarilor Din Transilvania, and Javier Fernandez Cortes, Secretary General of Cluster Piedra.