THE ITALIAN EXHIBITION AND TRADE FAIR ASSOCIATION SIGNS A STRATEGIC AGREEMENT WITH INDIA
AEFI’s work towards the internationalisation of the Italian trade fair system continues: in the last few days, the Association signed an agreement with IEIA, the Indian Exhibition Industry Association.
The signature was provided by Rajiv Malhotra, Honorary Secretary of IEIA, and by Ettore Riello, Chairman of AEFI.
IEIA is the Indian Association that represents organisers, suppliers and venues in the sector as a whole.
In an increasingly global market and faced with a constantly evolving international scenario, internationalisation is now a necessary choice and an opportunity that the trade fair sector cannot refuse, because it’s a fundamental driver in supporting the growth of Italian businesses.
“Internationalisation is a fundamental driver for the development and growth of our businesses, and this year too it will be one of the association’s main activities,” comments Ettore Riello, AEFI Chairman. “India is a strategic market, given the growth rates and very high number of consumers with ever greater purchasing power, and it represents an opportunity that we intend to seize. Thanks to IEIA we will have the right support for approaching the complex, diverse and extensive market that is India, allowing cultural barriers to be overcome as well. Through this agreement, AEFI intends to facilitate the encounter between the two countries, offering Italian companies growth opportunities for their business. With its many product sectors, India represents the ideal commercial partner for Italy, with a fabric characterised by SMEs.”
The signing of the agreement represents an important result for AEFI in supporting the national trade fair system.
The aim of the agreement is to exchange information on the situation and development of the two economic systems as well as the trade fair policies of the two countries, a fair price policy for activities, products and services offered by IEIA and AEFI, reciprocal communication of information and promotion of the respective exhibitions, organisation and promotion of missions, meetings and seminars to promote networking and making new contacts, carrying out studies and research on issues of mutual interest and the promotion of commercial cooperation through all tools available, including the web.
“The agreement between IEIA and AEFI is a big step forward and represents the beginning of an important collaboration between the two associations. It will be decisive in bringing together the trade fair communities of the two countries,” comments Rajiv Malhotra, Honorary Secretary of IEIA.
The 7th edition of “IEIA Open Seminar” – to be held 4–6 May at the Bombay Exhibition Centre with the theme “Trade fairs: driver for economic growth – represents the first concrete collaboration between the two associations.
“IEIA Open Seminar” is the premier networking and knowledge conference for the Indian trade fair sector, which sees participation by more than 300 delegates from all over the world: chairmen, CEOs, general managers and other decision makers in the sector, together with government representatives and ministers. The event is also supported by national and international trade and other associations.
“I thank AEFI for its support in this important event,” adds the Honorary Secretary of IEIA. “This is an initial concrete indication of collaboration between the two associations.”
Confirming the importance of India as a strategic market for Italian companies is the business mission at the end of April, to New Delhi and Mumbai (from 26 to 28 April), organised by Confindustria, in collaboration with the Italian Trade Agency, ABI (Italian Bank Association), Unioncamere and supported by the Italian Ministries of Foreign Affairs and of Economic Development.
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. 95% of international trade fairs, and 85% of all trade fairs, which take place each year in Italy, are held in AEFI-member exhibition districts.