Italy : ready to show the world
The Italian Exhibition and Trade Fair Association ( AEFI ) has been working for more than a year to create a set of tools and secure funding to help reopen and restart trade fair activities in the country . It shares some insights into the process of recovery now underway
he rules for the reopening of exhibitions in Italy were contained in the 28 May Order of the Ministry of Health , together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation . That decision came in a decree that recognised the AEFI Protocol as the reference document for the reopening of trade fairs in the country .
The AEFI Protocol was incorporated into the subsequent Decree Law 23 July 2021 which clarified regulations safeguarding both industry professionals and the users of the industry ’ s services , and introduced the Green Covid-19 Certification for entry into all fairs and exhibitions .
Fund for Italian exhibiting companies In terms of financial help , Italian exhibitors , from 3 June 2021 were able to apply to SIMEST ( the Italian Development Finance Institution ) Fund 394 for a maximum grant of € 150,000 , including a nonrepayable share of up to 25 % ( depending on availability ). This fund helps companies finance their participation in international exhibitions in Italy . There is also financing available for exhibition companies to indemnify losses .
The Ministry of Tourism also has funds to cover losses incurred by exhibition districts , conference centres , logistics , transport and contractor services and , alongside the national initiatives , individual Italian regions have enacted specific local measures designed to cover damage and relaunch industry .
The full calendar of major national and international events planned is available for download
Below : Fiera Roma in bloom from the AEFI website , www . aefi . it
Foreign trade visitors Foreign operators travelling to international exhibitions held in Italy can take advantage of initiatives that include exemption from PCR Covid testing and quarantine when entering the country for a period of no more than five days for proven reasons of work .
To increase the number of visitors and promote Italian exhibitions , the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and ICE-Agenzia have launched some major promotional initiatives and are offering support within the framework of the Pact for Export , of which trade fairs form one of the six pillars .
Outlook A little over a month after Italian exhibitions opened their doors again on 15 June 2021 , 11 national and 20 international events were held across the country - evidence of how strongly the trade sector was committed to getting back to work .
AEFI reports that 172 international events have been scheduled for the period 15 June to 31 December 2021 . They cover all areas of the Made-in-Italy brand :
• Textiles , clothing and fashion ( 12 %);
• Sports , hobbies , entertainments and the arts ( 11 %);
• Food , beverages and hospitality ( 10 %);
• Industry , technology and mechanical engineering ( 9 %);
• Agriculture , forestry and livestock ( 8 %);
• Furnishing and interior design ( 8 %).
That is in addition to 163 national events scheduled , mainly in agriculture , forestry and livestock , sports , hobbies , entertainments and the arts , food , beverages and hospitality , textiles , clothing and fashion , and electronics .
www . exhibitionworld . co . uk Issue 5 2021 55