In line with previous editions, Kamien was a reference event for the Polish techno-stone market and for the entire central-eastern European area, in heavy development and affording many business opportunities for stone sector companies. The fair, now in its sixteenth edition, was held as usual in the Hala Ludowa expo hall on a total area of 5000 sq m and drew more than three hundred exhibitors as well as thousands of visitors. Making it a must event for Italian companies, always interested in this market and for quite a number of years massively present at the show.

The official Italian contingent, composed of over 20 sector companies, was organized and promoted by ASSOMARMOMACCHINE, which this year too succeeded in setting up an Italian area that fulfilled visitor and organizer expectations, occupying a central position. And as usual the association’s stand was a meeting-point for Italian and foreign operators and visitors, a place to gather and get information about the sector and the association’s activities.

The ASSOMARMOMACCHINE stand was also the venue for a meeting between Raimondo Lovati, association director, and Adriana Bajno, president of the Polish Stone Industry Employers Association. They mainly discussed the initiatives tied to the European logo for authentically natural stone products – Pietra Autentica in the Italian-language version, Kamien Naturalny in the Polish – which the two associations are entitled to grant in their respective countries, and the possibilities of working together in forms of joint promotion.

The event sent important signals from exhibitors and visitors, confirming the rightness of the Italian ASSOMARMOMACCHINE’s decision, taken several years ago, to participate in the Wroclaw event. During a meeting with the Kamien organizers, ASSOMARMOMACCHINE director Lovati confirmed the Association’s desire to set up an Italian area next year, too, also proposing to organize events and activities giving Italian companies even greater visibility on the tradeshow stage.

An event unique of its kind, The Big5 puts seven big sectors on the same stage (construction and infrastructure, hydraulic technology and environment, air-conditioning and refrigeration, cleaning and maintenance, glass and metal, bathrooms and ceramic, marble and machinery) and is a premier showcase for Italian companies and others interested in penetrating this appetizing business environment where the economy is booming.

At this latest edition there were over 2,800 exhibitor companies from 67 countries, and more than 40,000 people visited the show during its five-day run. As always in the front line in sector promotion, Assomarmomacchine – the institutional and industrial reference association for the Italian techno-stone sector – handled coordination and promotion of the Italian exhibitors. The official Italian stand, set up by Assomarmomacchine, had a display area of nearly 800 sq m and included more than 40 sector companies, attracting a great many international visitors and institutional figures.

In fact, the association’s important presence at the fair was saluted with satisfaction by Italian International Trade Minister, Emma Bonino, and the Italian Trade Commission director general, Massimo Mamberti, who, during their tour of the Italian area in the Marble and Machinery hall, enjoyed a profitable meeting with Flavio Marabelli, ASSOMARMOMACCHINE president, emphasizing how important it is for Italian companies to be present on a market like the United Arab Emirates, a reference point for the entire Arab world and one with great development prospects.

In addition, throughout the event the ASSOMARMOMACCHINE stand was, as usual, a valuable reference point for exhibitors and visitors, a place at which to congregate, set work appointments and get information on association activities.

The Big5 was also an important showcase for Pietra Autentica, the Italian-language version of the collective European trademark for authentically natural stone products. In fact, in addition to being seen among exhibitors, thanks to a lovely array of banners the blue logo was very visibly publicized to visitors and exhibitors in the Italian area, getting consensus and further adherents.

ibitors were pleased with both the quality and the quantity of the business contacts made during the fair, especially in view of the Emirates’ development prospects. It is estimated that the UAE will invest over 30 billion dollars in the next four years in new building projects. In an interview with the Italian financial daily, Il Sole 24 Ore, Flavio Marabelli declared: “In regard to both stone technology and materials, the Middle Eastern market is in heavy growth. Here you find the world’s most grandiose projects, and here the Arab world comes to buy stone and stone technology. The aim of promotional initiatives like organizing the institutional Assomarmomacchine area is precisely to help Italian companies be a part of the great business now being done here”.