The Salone del Mobile kicks off today. 800 thousand people are expected in Milan

Despite the spectre of American duties hovering over the 63rd edition of the Milan Furniture Fair (which opens on 8 April in the presence of the local authorities and the Minister of Made in Italy Adolfo Urso), the city is already celebrating, as it does every year and perhaps even more so. Until Sunday, more than 2,100 furniture and lighting companies will be exhibiting at Fiera Milano in Rho, arriving from 37 countries and a number of visitors that could come close to last year's (more than 370,000).

More than numbers however, as the President of the Show, Maria Porro, has repeatedly said, what companies are interested in above all is 'the quality' of the incoming buyers. Quality and provenance: in times of geopolitical uncertainty, companies must try to diversify their markets as much as possible. They are looking to the Middle East, above all, as FederlegnoArredo president Claudio Feltrin reminds us, particularly the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, which recorded double-digit growth last year. But also to India and South America.

The expectations of companies, both those exhibiting at trade fairs and those exhibiting in the city, in their own showrooms, are high.

And expectations are high for Milan itself, since yesterday the showcase for a thousand design-related events. According to Milan's Confcommercio, the induced revenue for the territory brought by the Salone del Mobile and Fuorisalone in one week will be around 278 million euros, 73% of which will be generated by foreigners' tourist spending. "It is difficult to make forecasts, but we expect for this week 800,000 arrivals in the city and this gives an idea of how animated and convulsive Milan will be," said Mayor Giuseppe Sala yesterday. "This is a great commitment for the city, but it is also a positive sign that the economy is holding up at a time that is not easy globally.

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