Machinery for working marble constitutes one of the sectors that reflect Italy’s tradition, ability and leadership in the production of marble and granite and in technology for quarrying and working them and transforming them into high-quality finished products ready for use in the building trade. The Italian Institute for Foreign Trade (ICE), in collaboration with Marmomacchine, the sector’s principal marble machinery trade association, is arranging for Italy to be officially involved in the coming eighth edition of the Iranstone/IranConMin 2008 trade fair (www.iranconmin.de/en) to be held from 29^th June to 2^nd July at the Teheran Permanent Fairground in Iran.

According to the study centre of Marmomacchine, the Italian association of manufacturers and users of machinery and equipment for working ornamental stone, exports of Italian stone technology reached 840 million euros in 2007 with an increase of 3.93% (a total value of over 30 million) compared to 2006. This is undoubtedly a pleasing performance, equalling the export growth rate recorded the previous year. However, the total figure is even more significant, say those at Marmomacchine, since it represents a notable trend reversal compared to the first half of last year, which closed with a slight decline (-1.4%). The first few months of 2008 also show promise, although the Italian stone and technology sector is preparing for another far-from-easy year with companies bracing themselves to deal with highly unfavourable market conditions, particularly due to the current economic difficulties in the United States, the number one buyer of Italian machinery and equipment for processing natural stone.

This is the situation to which the ICE-Marmomacchine initiative must adapt during Iranstone/IranConMin 2008. Its aim is to consolidate Italy’s presence in a market which is rapidly growing for at least five reasons, namely the presence of significant mineral deposits (Iranian ornamental stone such as marble, travertine, onyx and granite in numerous varieties of quality and colour), the demand by local operators to rationalise, modernise and innovate stone extraction and working processes, the growth of the stone industry, the rapid development of the building sector and the strength of the local economy which is growing by 5% each year at GDP level. The growing interest in the sector is confirmed by figures of the biennial Iranstone/IranConMin event. Indeed, over the four editions since 2000, the exhibitors have steadily increased in number from 248 to 344. The 2006 edition attracted over 23,500 visitors, the vast majority of which were professional operators, and 95 of the exhibitors (over 27%) were foreign. The size of the exhibition space has also increased from 9,500 to 15,000 square metres, demonstrating the steady rise of the trade fair’s profile.