May 30 – The Puglia Region participates in Macef Russia, one of the most famous events dedicated to home décor and living. Macef Russia kicked off in Moscow on Wednesday and will end on Friday at the All Russian Exhibition Center, in conjunction with New Russian Style, dedicated to Jewelry, Gift and Silver Products. A delegation of nine Puglia companies has its own exhibition area – the “Space Puglia” – located in Pavilion 75 of the All Russian Exhibition Center in Moscow. The Councilor for Economic Development of the Region of Puglia, Loredana Capone, is accompanying the firms to ensure constructive cooperation with their Russian counterparts. “Handcrafted products are a vital sector of our economy, it reinforces the traditions upon which our society is build and it projects us into the future through innovation and internationalization. Today, in Puglia there are more than 76.000 small businesses, 22.6% of overall firms in the region. Puglia and Russia are linked by strong historical and religious ties, reflected in Puglia’s 2012 craft exports to Russia, which grew by 171.6% compared to 2011. The Region of Puglia is strongly promoting the sector in terms of simplification, incentives and appreciation of artistic craftsmanship. Is also pushing companies to increase their visibility on foreign markets. And participating in Macef is part of this strategy. The skill of our craftsmen promote Puglia’s image in the world.” To increase visibility of the Puglia space, craftsmen will be reproducing on stage the process that lead to the creation of their products – bringing to life the skills behind the art. The religious bond between Puglia and Russia passes by the particularly important role of St. Nicholas in both regions and the presence of the Russian Orthodox Church in Bari (delivered in 2012 to the Russian authorities). This tie will be highlighted in Space Puglia through the exhibition of some costumes representing the translation of St. Nicholas’ bones from Myra to Bari in 1087. Two Puglia craftsmen designed and produced the clothes, jewelry and other accessories by hand. In addition, the exhibition area will include the clothing worn during the last historic parade, like the robes worn by the Abbot Elias and other known Bari personalities. Within the regional institutional space, there will also be a tasting of gourmet delights and wines from Puglia.
