CHICAGO – The Italian Trade Commission's Chicago Office (ITC), represented through its project Machines Italia, will be one of the major sponsors of the World Business Forum 2009 (October 6th and 7th) during which it will host Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Krugman in an exclusive discussion on "The Future of Global Manufacturing".

Italy, ranked as one of the top ten industrial machinery solution providers by the U.S. Department of Commerce, has been a critical machinery partner to many of the largest U.S. manufacturing groups and is forging new leadership roles in many major manufacturing arenas.

As Italian automotive giant Fiat assumes the helm of one of America's most emblematic car manufacturers, the need to assess the increasingly international dynamics of the manufacturing industry is great. To lead industry executives and stakeholders through an assessment of the trends and industry shifts currently impacting the manufacturing industry, The ITC via its Machines Italia project along with its association partners are sponsoring Paul Krugman, professor, Op-Ed columnist for The New York Times and author of numerous books, including The Great Unraveling and The Return of Depression Economics.

This discussion is part of an executive lunch occurring on the second day of the Forum (October 7th) at New York's prestigious 21 Club. Ambassador Umberto Vattani, Italian Trade Commission President, and Pasquale Bova, Trade Commissioner of the Italian Trade Commission's Chicago Office, will welcome and introduce Prof. Krugman. Following his remarks, Krugman will engage the audience in a Q & A panel with Italian panel members featuring Amb. Vattani; Dr. Alberto Sacchi, President of FEDERMACCHINE (Italy's National Federation of Associations of Manufacturers of Capital Goods Intended for Industrial and Handicrafts Manufacturing Processes); and Prof. Antonio Marzano, President of Italy's National Council of the Economy and Labour (CNEL).

The luncheon will also serve as the occasion to officially launch The Italian Edge: Technology for Excellence, published and produced by the Italian Trade Commission. All in attendance will be the first to receive a copy of the book, which highlights the technology and machinery behind many of Italy's most famous internationally known brands.

As a sponsor of the World Business Forum New York 2009, the ITC via its project has also published the latest edition of its magazine, Machines Italia. The magazine, distributed to over 20,000 North American companies, outlines how Italian solution providers and North American

companies are "Turning Innovation into Responsibility," demonstrating ways in which local North American manufacturers employ Italian innovation to achieve sustainable, responsible production solutions. The Machines Italia 2009 edition - distributed to all attendees - will also

be available for download online at www.machinesitalia.com prior to the Forum.

Machines Italia will also host an exhibition booth at the Forum to promote all 14 sectors of the Italian machinery industry and their respective associations. Representatives from partner Italian machinery manufacturers associations, Invest in Italy, Italian Bio-Technologies and Machines Italia North American offices will be on hand to provide information to the 5,000 plus attendees – all Top C-Level executives.

More information on the World Business Forum is available at www.wbfny.com