AEFI SIGNS A STRATEGIC MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH IRAN TO INTERNATIONALISE EXHIBITIONS
As a result of the Italian Government’s mission to Teheran following the removal of sanctions and the re-opening of the Iranian market to the West, the Internationalisation Committee of AEFI, the Italian Exhibition and Trade Fair Association, has signed a memorandum of understanding with Iran International Exhibitions Company, Iran’s leading exhibition organisers. The memorandum was signed at Palazzo Italia in Milan yesterday, to coincide with Iran National Day at EXPO 2015.
The memorandum represents an important step by AEFI towards the internationalisation of the Italian exhibition industry, and seizes the opportunity presented by the latest phase of development for the Iranian market. It will contribute to the economic growth of both countries by bringing together the expertise and experience of AEFI’s members in organising events for specific sectors of industry on the one hand, and the growth in interest and new business opportunities offered by the Iranian economy on the other.
“The lifting of sanctions is going to have a positive impact on the Italian exhibition sector,” commented Ettore Riello, Chairman of AEFI. ” Iran is an extremely important market for Italian businesses. Thanks to the elimination of sanctions, we can expect Italian exports to increase by 2 to 3 billion Euros over the next three years. The signature of this MoU represents a first important step in this direction and will mean an increase in the opportunities for growth open to Italian companies. AEFI’s objective is not just to intensify but to more than double the existing level of commercial and promotional activities.”
“We are delighted with the signature of this memorandum of understanding. It will provide even small and medium Italian enterprises with an opportunity to find partners in our country through exhibitions and trade fairs. We would like to thank AEFI and Chairman Ettore Riello, and Pietro Piccinetti in particular for this important step. Italy is a traditional and historic trading partner of Iran,” stated Hossein Esfahbodi, Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry and Chairman of Iran International Exhibitions Co.
“The MoU signed with Iran International Exhibitions is a major opportunity for Italian exporters, especially in fields in which Italy has significant expertise and areas that Italian exhibitions know so well how to promote”, added Pietro Piccinetti, Coordinator of AEFI’s Internationalisation Committee..
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: the Exhibition Hub Technical Committee, the Administrative-Legal Committee, the Trade Fairs Network Committee, the IT and Technical Innovation Committee, and the new Initiatives and Programmes Committee.
On an international scale, AEFI represents Italian trade fairs in UFI – Union of International Fairs. Chaired by Ettore Riello, AEFI includes 34 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.