CARRARA, ITALY - The promotional campaign for CarraraMarmotec 2010, the 30th International Exhibition of Marble, Technology and Design, extended its program to involve a promotional tour in Morocco and Tunisia where from - November 15 to 19 -meetings, seminars and events were held to show authorities and operators the exhibition program and the opportunities open to an area that has always had very lively trade relations with the Apuo-Versilian district.

In recent years, North Africa has recorded constant growth in terms of imports of Italian stone materials, with an increase in turnover that is almost totally accounted for by Tuscan exports. The figures for Morocco and Tunisia include an overall imports of Italian materials in 2008 to the tune of approximately 45 million Euros, yet the figures for Italian exports of machinery and technology to African countries, demonstrate how the production structure has strengthened and how in some countries this is also supported by consumption figures.

The most significant leg of the promotional tour was Casablanca where, with the collaboration of the Italian Institute for Foreign Trade, and in the presence of the General Consul Nicola Lener, CarraraMarmotec was presented to 30 operators who, through their spokesperson Monsieur Zafad, Chairman of the Association of Moroccan Marble Workers, announced their intention to be at next year’s exhibition with an important delegation.

Another very important port of call on the trip was Tunisia where, together with the Ministry of Equipment, the Environment and Planning and in collaboration with the National Building Federation and the National Trade Union of Marble Workers, an agreement was drawn up to carry out a rich program of promotional activities for marble as well as the organization of a delegation of high-profile operators at CarraraMarmotec.

“These days were very useful to further strengthen cultural and trade relations,” stated the CarraraFiere Press Office. “Throughout the meetings we had - CarraraFiere’s General Manager, Paris Mazzanti, emphasized - there was a very clear interest from the authorities and operators in the role of the Apuan district and our exhibition. These are countries that began to industrialize and promote their national stone resources many years ago and hence have a tradition and experience in the use of natural stone. This is where the interest that was shown on all official occasions by the authorities and representatives from the economy and trade associations to strengthen relations with Carrara, Italy, where our exhibition comes from.”

The most concrete demonstration of the intention to improve the competitiveness of the Tunisian stone industry through close relations with the Italian industry was the official invitation to the Italian delegation to take part in the opening of the 2nd International Show of Tunisian Stone at the Centre des Foires in Tunisia, opened by the Ministry of Equipment, the Environment and Planning, S. Malloush, in the presence of the director of the Ministry’s quarry sector, Madame Ben Soltane, the Chairman of the National Building Federation, Brahim Naeli and the Chairman of the Marble Workers Union, Ben Saad.