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IT-EX is born, the new association of Italian international trade fairs, which aims to «support the internationalization and promotion of the Italian trade fair system. Promoted by Fondazione Fiera Milano, founding member, and 14 constituent members, IT-EX represents events of international importance, capable of generating over 40 billion euros in business, with 700 thousand visitors from abroad and 27 thousand exhibiting companies. Subjects that currently attract 67% of exhibitors and 53% of visitors from abroad.
«The Association aims to make people understand how international trade fairs are a fundamental asset for businesses and must take on a central role in defining a development strategy and industrial policy in a complex and changing global scenario», said the president, Antonio Intiglietta.
Currently, the members are Aimpes Servizi, Anci Servizi, Assomac Servizi, Ceu (Ucimu exhibition centre), Eicma, Federlegno Arredo Eventi, Fiera Milano Spa, Gefi, Ies, Lineapelle Srl, Mifur, Proposte, RX Italy, Sitex, but the association is open to the involvement of other international players.
The intent is «to bring together and give voice to the organizers and exhibition districts exclusively at an international level», we read in the launch press release: «the Association will deal with industrial policy for the sector, through joint dialogue with institutions and agencies which define the national export promotion strategy and with the main European and global trade fair association organisations”.
IT-EX wants to respond to the international vocation of Italian industry, «which must be protected with an industrial policy that favors exports and which requires an equally international trade fair presence, to be developed along three lines: strategies to attract more and more exhibitors and visitors from ‘abroad; direct organization of Italian fairs abroad; offer of exhibition centers and services of high quality standards”.