At the event, Lineapelle, Micam, Mipel, Simac Tanning Tech organized the “Greatify” meeting as important fairs of the leather and leather products industry. and IT-EX, the first association of Italian international trade fairs, was established.
It organized a meeting to emphasize the importance of the Made in Italy approach and to showcase its vision of Italian trade fairs in the global market, and also organized a “Greatify” meeting for the leather and leather products industry. Both meetings were held separately and have in common the importance of Italian brands and fairs.
Made in Italy was emphasized within the scope of Greatify, which took place in Milan on Thursday, February 8. Milan’s upcoming fashion fairs were treated as an opportunity to think big. Talking about the generational change with an emphasis on sustainability at Greatify, ASSOCALZATURIFICI President Giovanna CEOLINI underlined how both the association and Micam always support new generations and continued, “As in all fashion sectors, even in the shoe industry, it is necessary to face the next generation.” “Lack of manpower can become a transition problem. Companies are getting personally involved, welcoming young people to introduce them to our professional universe, which increasingly embraces technologies that they do not know, that young people know how to use, and also offers interesting salary prospects,” he said.
On what institutions should do to support sectors that are very important for Made in Italy, Fulvia BACCHI, CEO of LINEAPELLE, said, “All companies in our sector, especially tanneries, have been working on sustainability for 50-60 years and they make this their strong point by supporting it with certificates.” and underlined Sustainability and said, “Lineapelle revolves around a universe of 60,000 companies worldwide with 2 million employees and a total turnover of more than 150 billion. “Over the years we have become increasingly international, with appointments in London, Tokyo, China (to which we will return shortly) and New York,” he said.
Agostino APOLITO, manager of Simac Tanning Tech, the reference fair of the leather products and leather processing technologies industry, said, “While we were waiting for our September edition, where we will celebrate Simac’s 50th anniversary with more than 300 participants, we wanted to be a part of this ‘big fair family’. It is very important for us to talk to manufacturers, understand their needs better and develop the most suitable machine for them. However, since these are definitely difficult products to transport, we created a virtual catalog that simulates a real factory that people can visit, thanks to artificial intelligence. In our opinion, new technologies and artificial intelligence will help to produce more and, above all, better.” He underlined the importance of new technologies, including artificial intelligence produced in Italy.
Within the scope of Made in Italy, the issue that the new association, IT-EX, will provide added value to both sectors and the Italian economy was brought to the agenda and the first president of the association, Antonio INTIGLIETTA, said, “The organizers of trade fairs are building the economic development scenario of the future with today’s experience and the economic system of our country is increasingly gaining ground at the international level.” “IT-EX aims to act as an authorized representative to support the interests and needs of the sector and to promote the internationalization of the sector.”
It was underlined that the three main strategies of the IT-EX Association are to develop strategies to attract more and more participants and visitors from abroad, to develop the direct organization of Italian fairs abroad, and to provide exhibition centers and services with high quality standards.