Feb. 18 – The Carapina fairgrounds, in the Brazilian city of Vitoria, are hosting the Italian marble fair system until February 21. The 2014 edition of Vitória Stone Fair / Marmomacc Latin America marks the beginning of Veronafiere’s full-scale operations in Brazil, exporting the highly successful formula of Marmomacc. The exhibition in the state of Espírito Santo is not just an exhibition space dedicated to the sector of marble and granite, it gives great attention to design and product culture thanks to new training courses for architects and skilled operators. The objective is to support the increasingly effective development of trade relations between Italian sector operators with Brazil, one of the fasted growing countries in the world and gateway to South and North America. Brazil is one of the most promising markets for the construction sector: it is the fifth country in the world by extension, the ninth-largest economy and in recent years has come under heavy investment in infrastructure ahead of the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympics. This year’s event sees several Italian companies, primarily from Verona, participate: Testi Group, Marmi Bruno Zanet, Antolini Luigi Spa, Adria Abrasivi, and Tenax. The most important Italian technology and machinery producers for marble processing are also present: Gmm, Intermac, Barsanti, Breton, Pellegrini Meccanica, Donatoni Macchine, Gaspari Menotti, Montresor, Klindex, Simec, Pedrini and Bauce and Margraf for marble extraction. The presence of VeronaFiere in the American continent (where it is already active with Stonexpo Marmomacc Americas since 2008) has been strengthened over the past year thanks to the establishment of VeronaFiere do Brasil – a company owned by Veronafiere and owned at 49% by Simest. Simest bought in 2012 60% of Minanez&Milaneze, the main organizer for natural stone sector events in South America.
