Boasting an exhibition area of over 320,000 square feet, 27,000 trade visitors and 565 direct exhibitors -- 60% from Spain and 40% from 28 countries around the world -- Piedra presents a unique opportunity to discover the broad scope of natural stone in an attractive setting.

Organizers point out that Spain is among the world leaders in stone production, and the Spanish natural stone industry has also focused on R&D in recent years, bolstering its technical capabilities. The U.S. has been a key player in the international trade of Spanish natural stone, as it is the leading importer of Spanish marble, both processed and unprocessed; the second largest importer of unprocessed Spanish granite; and the fifth largest importer of unprocessed Spanish slate.

This has encouraged Piedra to implement a program targeting potential buyers from the U.S., with the aim of selecting and inviting a group of U.S. importers. The group will visit the fair in May 2006 in Madrid, invited by the fair organizers, and the selection is currently being carried out by the IFEMA Delegation in Miami. For more information on becoming part of the IFEMA Delegation, please e-mail Beatriz Manchado at beatriz.manchado@madridoffice.com or call 305-461-5301.