AEFI SIGNS A STRATEGIC AGREEMENT WITH IELA, AN INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LOGISTICS PROFESSIONALS FOR THE TRADE FAIR SECTOR
AEFI’s work on the promotion and internationalisation of the Italian trade fair system continues. Active from the beginning in dialogue with the main international organisations in the sector in order to support the business of its members, in the last few days AEFI has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the IELA –International Exhibition Logistics Association – which brings together all operators in the world of trade fair logistics.
The aims of the agreement are exchange of information on the development of the sector, reciprocal promotion of the associations’ respective work, the organisation of shared initiatives, meetings and seminars dedicated to training members and the promotion of networking.
The agreement is part of AEFI’s mission to support member districts, including through the implementation of dedicated services for expansion on the international market. This partnership will be particularly useful to small trade fairs, which thanks to the IELA’s network of professionals logistics operators, present extensively worldwide, will find it easier to take part in exhibitions that take place in distant countries as well.
“Logistics represents a strategic asset for the trade fairs system, essential to the success of an event,” comments Ettore Riello, AEFI Chairman. “Even if the digital revolution has led to the birth of virtual marketplaces, trade fairs continue to represent irreplaceable showcases and important growth opportunities for businesses. With this agreement, AEFI intends to intensify its promotional activities and assist its members in all the processes of running an exhibition, offering the possibility of finding the right partner thanks to the network of professional IELA operators active in the global market.”
“We believe that operative excellence is a successful driver both for the organiser and the exhibition district. The agreement with AEFI is part of the IELA’s development project and we are sure that we will both be in a position to benefit. The partnership aims, on one hand, to assist AEFI members in all steps of the logistical process, useful for the success of an exhibition wherever it’s held and above all following the introduction of ever developing and more strict safety measures. On the other, it will allow us to bring innovations to support the development of the sector to the strategic market that is Italy,” adds Guido Fornelli, IELA board member.
AEFI – the Italian Exhibition and Trade Fair Association – was set up in 1983 with a view to generating synergies between the most significant Italian exhibition districts. Specifically, AEFI would like to be seen as a privileged partner for operators and institutions alike, and its role is to support members through the development of activities and programmes in the sphere of training, marketing, promotion and research, as well as to provide services for trade fairs through the activities of its Committees: Exhibition Hub Technical Committee, Legal-Administrative Committee, Internationalisation Committee and Trade Fairs Network Committee.
On an international scale, AEFI represents Italian trade fairs in UFI – Union of International Fairs. Chaired by Ettore Riello, AEFI includes 35 member exhibition districts, which organise over 1,000 events a year over an overall exhibition area of 4.2 million square metres. Most international trade fairs, and 85% of all trade fairs, which take place each year in Italy, are held in AEFI-member exhibition districts.
IELA – International Exhibition Logistics Association, international association of trade fair sector logistics professionals. The IELA’s strict entry requirements ensure the utmost service quality level. Its members, who operate according to the association’s code of ethics, are recognised as leaders in the sector and specialist professionals both nationally and internationally.
Thanks to partnerships with the sector’s main organisations, such as the UFI, IAEE, IAEM, AEO and AEFI, the IELA guarantees organisers and exhibition districts access to an international network of contacts specialising also in customs procedures.
Founded in 1985, the IELA is chaired by Mariane Ewbank and currently has 155 members and 33 affiliates from 54 countries. Members also include 5 Italian businesses: Cogefrin S.p.a., DSV S.p.a., Expotrans S.p.a., Gondrand-Fercam Group S.p.a., Otim S.p.a..