Trade fairs, , Aefi and IT-EX agreement for shared representation

In an increasingly complex and uncertain economic and geopolitical context, trade fairs are strengthening their role as an industrial policy tool, fundamental for supporting the competitiveness of the Italian entrepreneurial system, especially on international markets. Proof of this is the fact that, despite the complex economic situation and the difficulties that many companies are going through, the Italian trade fair system has recorded record numbers in the last two years.

Precisely in order to strengthen this system and enhance the strategic role of trade fairs, but also to consolidate a unified and authoritative representation vis-à-vis national and international institutions, the two main associations in the sector signed a Letter of Intent yesterday at Mimit, in the presence of the Minister of Enterprise and Made in Italy, Adolfo Urso, to consolidate collaboration and synergies.

In keeping with their respective characteristics, Aefi (Association of Italian Exhibitions and Fairs) and IT-EX (Italian Association of International Exhibitions) have signed an agreement following the protocol signed between the two associations last September, aimed at structuring the coordination of their respective activities in a stable manner.

'The trade fair system is a strategic lever for the Italian production fabric and for our Made in Italy. This agreement strengthens its role and consolidates its function at the service of our companies and their international presence, contributing to the country's competitiveness,' said Minister Urso.

The agreement has given rise to a Joint Coordination Committee of 12 members (six for each of the two associations) already appointed by the two bodies, which will have to develop the operational lines of the collaboration in the coming weeks and draw up proposals to strengthen the system, with the aim of arriving by the summer at a single shared representation of the entire trade fair system (whose legal form will be decided in the coming months). The Committee will be chaired by Giovanni Bozzetti, president of Fondazione Fiera Milano: "The collaboration between Aefi and It-Ex represents a strategic step for strengthening the Italian exhibition system, especially in an increasingly competitive international context," said Bozzetti. "Today it is essential to overcome logics of belonging and territorial contrasts to build a trade fair system capable of working in a coordinated manner, even between fairs in different cities. The Italian trade fair sector is worth about 1.4 billion euro, compared to the 4 billion of the German system: to bridge this gap we must work as a system and develop a shared vision"