4 October 2013, 00:00
Marmomacc was chosen for the first mission abroad by the Egyptian Minister for Industry and Trade, Mounir Fakhry Abdel Nour. Veronafiere, starting in 2014, will become the first international organisation present in Cairo with MS Africa & Middle East (11-14 December).
Verona, 3 October 2013. The Egyptian Minister for Industry and Trade, Mounir Fakhry Abdel Nour, chose Marmomacc in Verona for his first mission abroad after the appointment of the new Government. Italy and Egypt thereby consolidate an important commercial axis, especially for the Egyptian marble and granite industry worth over 2.5 billion dollars, where exports of Italian machinery and technology grew by 40% in the first four months of 2013.
"Egypt is on the road towards normalization," said the Egyptian Minister for Industry and Trade, Mounir Fakhry Abdel Nour –. The economy is picking up, with an infrastructure investment plan in excess of thirty billion euros, growing exports and balance of payments in the black. The visit to Marmomacc today is very important with a view to the international exhibition for the world of natural stone and building machinery scheduled next year in Cairo thanks to Veronafiere."
11-14 December 2014 welcomes the first edition of MS Africa & Middle East, the new event organized by Veronafiere with the objective of taking the marble and construction industries to Cairo through two successful brands such as Marmomacc and Samoter.
«Egypt confirms is status as one of the most important trading partners for Italy in the Mediterranean area: first in Europe and third worldwide," said the CEO & Director General of Veronafiere, Giovanni Mantovani. Veronafiere will be the first international operator present in Cairo next Autumn with a new show appointment for the building sector. This initiative also opens a window for other partnerships in strategic areas for us, such as agriculture, agricultural engineering and food. It is confirmation of what was emphasised yesterday in the presence of Deputy Minister Calenda, namely that international exhibitions are indispensable instruments for the industrial and export policy of the country."
During his visit to the 48th Marmomacc, the world's leading trade fair for stone, design and technology, the Egyptian Minister - accompanied by the Egyptian Consul in Milan, Nasser Hamed, and the Director of the ICE Office in Cairo, Massimo Sponzilli - visited the 41 Egyptian companies taking part in the event and met Italian entrepreneurs to outline investment opportunities in the country. Egyptian business associations were also present, with the President of the Federation of Egyptian Chambers of Commerce, Ahmed Elwakil, and the President of the Industrial Development Authority, Mahmoud Elgarf.
"Egypt," said the Director of the ICE Office in Cairo, Massimiliano Sponzilli, "is an important market for Italian exports, here achieving an annual value of 3.5 billion euros, not to mention the fact that is the most populous African country and plays a leading role within the Arab world. Working with Egypt means opening possible business opportunities in the rest of Africa - such as in Libya for the reconstruction of the country - and in the Middle East."
The stone industry in Egypt
Quarrying and processing stone in Egypt have ancient origins, as evidenced by the Pyramids of Giza (2550-2480 B.C.). Today, the country is among the top 10 world producers of marble and granite.
According to data provided by the ICE Office in Cairo, current investments in the Egyptian marble industry come to around 2.5 billion dollars. Italy is the second largest supplier to Egypt of machinery and tools for processing granite and marble, worth 29 million dollars in 2012, with a market share of 20.6%.
In the period January-April 2013, Italy took first position by almost doubling its exports to Egypt from 12 million dollars in the same period in 2012 to 23 million dollars, an increase of about 40%.
Italian technology and expertise is in great demand to help local industry achieve a leap in quality and increase the added value of its products. As for the local market, technical assistance and training of specialist operators are also important.
Veronafiere Press Service
Tel.: + 39.045.829.82.42 – 82.85 – 83.14
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Web: www.marmomacc.it - www.samoter.it
Source: SaMoTer; Veronafiere