Veronafiere set up the first global exhibition system in natural stone

The first global exhibition system in the natural stone sector "speaks Italian", thanks to Marmomacc in Italy and the agreement between Veronafiere, Simest and Sace for the South American market, whereby Veronafiere – through Veronafiere do Brasil – takes a seat in the control room of Vitória Stone Fair and Cachoeiro Stone Fair in Espirito Santo State, the two Brazilian reference events for the stone industry as a whole in Latin America.

The focus is on the major infrastructural investments ahead of the World Cup in 2014 and the Olympic Games in 2016. And other sectors are also now being considered, from agriculture to renewable energy and even food production.

Brazil is one of the most promising scenarios in sectors linked with the building-construction industry: it is the fifth largest country in the world, the ninth economic power and in coming years will see massive investments in infrastructures, as the host country for football World Cup and the Olympics.

The sector in Brazil
The natural stone industry represents 8% of Brazil@¬#s GDP. With over 43,000 tons/year of unprocessed and finished material, Brazil is the third largest exporter of granite. About 50% of national production in Brazil is concentrated in the small Espirito Santo State, which also achieves 65% of exports, with 1.5.40 million tons of blocks and slabs (with 40% of the total number of quarries in Brazil): this region is home to the Vitória Stone Fair and the Cachoeiro Stone Fair.

According to Confindustria Marmomacchine data, Brazil is the leading export destination for Made in Italy machinery and equipment with 56.6 million euros in the first 9 months of 2012, up by 43% over 2011.

Istat data processed Marmomacc Observatory-Veronafiere also indicate that in 2012, Italy exported worldwide unprocessed, semi-finished and finished stone products worth an overall a value of 1.7 billion euros, up by 9.7% compared to 2011 – with a special emphasis on finished and semi-finished products, totalling 1.4 billion euros (+11% over the previous year).

The 2.7 million euro operation involves the acquisition by VeronaFiere of 60% (with an option for 100%) of Milanez&Milaneze, the Brazilian company that operates the two largest local marble and granite exhibitions: Vitória Stone Fair and Cachoeiro Stone Fair, whose latest editions respectively attracted 420 and 220 exhibitors, with a total of 50,000 visitors from 66 countries.

* For further information: www.veronafiere.it