10 per growth compared with 2006
The biggest Brazilian natural stone exhibition takes place in the port of Vitória from 6-9 February 2007. As in the years before, more growth is expected again for 2007. The organizers Ilson and Cécilia Milaneze forecast 32000 visitors. The exhibition in Vitória is a stone show, which can be seen from the large number of natural stone suppliers exhibiting. 320 of the 420 exhibitors are stone suppliers and the rest are machine manufacturers or service providers. The most important target group is therefore natural stone buyers, traders, developers, architects and interior designers. Because of the boom enjoyed by stones from Brazil in the USA, the exhibition is very popular among North American stone professionals. The USA with 3000 visitors – equivalent to 57 per cent – provided the main share of foreign visitors last year, followed by Europe with 32 per cent and Asia with 6 per cent.
The five air-conditioned exhibition halls cover a total area of 25000 square metres and the extra outdoor area more than 10000 square metres. Some 1000 diferent materials are in store for visitors.
International exhibitors
Of the 420 exhibitors, 360 are Brazilian and 60 international. The share of international exhibitors has risen by half compared with 2006. 60 companies from Italy, China, Egypt, the USA, Portugal and Turkey have registered. Exhibitors from Germany and the Czech Republic will take part for the first time in 2007 and an Egyptian pavilion is also a sign of the increasing networking of the global natural stone market. Besides national suppliers of blocks and sawing companies, large international suppliers like Antolini, Bruno Zanet, Granitex, RED, Levantina or Grein are also present, companies which have long maintained their own branches, stores or works near Vitória.
The growth of international participation is attributed partly to the marketing activities of the exhibition company Milanez & Milaneze, which was present with information stands at leading exhibitions like Coverings in Orlando, Marmomacc in Verona or StonExpo in Las Vegas.
Apart from the exhibition in Vitória, another natural stone exhibition organized by Milanez & Milaneze takes place regularly in August in the centre of the Cachoeiro de Itapemirim stone region some 130 kilometres from Vitória.
Details of Vitória Stone Fair
Date: 6 - 9 February 2007
Open: daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Venue: Parque de Exposições Floriano Varejão exhibition site, a few minutes from Vitória airport.
More information:
milaneze@milanezmilaneze.com.br
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