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A SUCCESSFUL EVENT FOR THE EXHIBITING ITALIAN COLLECTIVE, ORGANISED BY THE ITALIAN MARINE INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION AND ITALIAN TRADE AGENCY
The 35th edition of the METSTRADE show in Amsterdam has come to a close, during which Italy played a key role, with its world leading exhibitors having taken to the global stage to showcase the very best the industry has to offer.
The finest innovations of the Made in Italy brand were on display, represented by 66 companies selected and brought together by the Italian Marine Industry Association – Confindustria Nautica – in collaboration with the Italian Trade Agency, which organised the Italian collective in Hall12 and the Superyacht Pavilion, a unique exhibition space showcasing the design and production of superyachts and components of which Italy is the world’s leading manufacturer.
Italy’s presence in Amsterdam was met with enthusiasm: “It is becoming increasingly clear to our companies just how important it is to take part in Amsterdam’s Metstrade as a part of the Italian collective showcase, which in turn is a part of the many initiatives put in place in partnership with the Italian Trade Agency under the Made in Italy Plan promoted by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation,” stated Saverio Cecchi, President of the Italian Marine Industry Association. “Networking and promoting the Italian manufacturing system as a whole is key for the internationalisation of companies who aim to export quality, excellence and innovation abroad, thanks to the great deal of synergy that has inspired, enhanced and amplified the role of the Made in Italy brand as a market leader.”
Equally enthusiastic was the official visit of Italian Ambassador to The Hague Giorgio Novello, who met the Italian companies present at Metstrade 2023, along with the directors of both the trade show itself and the Italian Marine Industry Association: “I touched on the global significance of this sector in my meeting with Saverio Cecchi, President of the Italian Marine Industry Association, who contributed to organising the collective of Italian companies: 88% of Italian turnover is from exports, its focus on sustainability is ever growing, the turnover continues to grow with double figures, its connection with the territory is intrinsic to its success, tradition, continuous innovation (such as in foiling), elegance of materials, and design, all of which go hand in hand. The Italian institutions in the Netherlands for their part have contributed significantly to the visibility of the Italian industry. This applies in particular to the Italian Trade Agency, which took care of an Italian collective counting almost 70 companies.”
Satisfaction was also expressed by the companies themselves that took part in the Italian collective and exhibited in the event’s Hall 12.
Anton Francesco Albertoni – CEO of Veleria San Giorgio: “The fair is going very well, we had two wonderful days. There has been a lot of interest and the premises for an excellent 2024 season are definitely there. The collective for us is of absolute importance, it is also nice to have an area dedicated to Italy, to be close to our industry colleagues and to be able to work together. All this can only be done with the coordination of a trade association that supports you, the added value is clearly there, you can see it. The feedback regarding the sector is positive. Despite initial concerns, we had a fantastic International Boat Show in Genoa and here in Amsterdam things went just as well. It will be a great 2024 season with excellent results for everyone“.
Alessandro Gianneschi – CEO of Gianneschi Pumps&Blowers: “Two very good days for us, we had a lot of visitors, many of whom were keenly interested. The high expectations we had were not disappointed, we’ve seen a lot of visitors from Europe, the Middle East, Turkey and Asia. This is the second year that we are exhibiting in this new location, and it has strengthened the image of both the equipment segment and the Italian collective in general even more. This is a sector in which we have many companies that are recognised internationally as world leaders. Joining forces and forming a collective is useful and sends a strong message that has gained excellent feedback. We want to continue like this, to team up and organise events, trying to involve more and more companies”.
Piero Formenti – CEO ZAR Formenti: “A high-quality event. Today was an interesting day with many important contacts. We produce tenders and where we are now exhibiting is very near the Superyacht Pavilion, so the location is ideal. This collective is essential for the Italian identity, and also to give a signal to buyers of what it means to produce that unique Made in Italy combination of beauty and craftsmanship. The companies that are not part of the collective should join us, they would certainly benefit a lot from being part of an important group, a group that clearly leaves its mark on this Show”.
Andrea Razeto – CEO of F.lli Razeto e Casareto:“METSTRADE is a fair that consistently achieves a high level in so many ways, we have had a lot of visitors and we get to meet a lot of new people. All in all, we are very satisfied. As far as attendance is concerned, the positioning plays in our favour. Once again, METS has confirmed its role as a fair that, in terms of both quality and quantity, remains important for us and for the work we do. The collective is always a winning formula, one of the Italian characteristics is that of having many companies, even small ones, and the fact we can appear together – especially in a sector in which we represent the pinnacle of technology and design – makes us even more recognisable to the world, championing the Made in Italy brand identity.”
Confirming the world-leading role played by the Italian yachting industry, the Breakfast Briefing of the 2023 edition of METS, the traditional opening event which sees the leaders of the international boating industry take centre stage, kicked off with a keynote speech by Massimo Perotti, President and CEO of Sanlorenzo S.p.A. and Former President of the Italian Marine Industry Association, who was also awarded the Lifetime Achievement prize during the Boat Builder Awards held on the evening of 16th November at the National Maritime Museum in Amsterdam.
The Italian Marine Industry Association’s participation at METS was also of key strategic importance on the international technical and regulatory front. The Association took part in several ICOMIA workgroups (organised by the International Council of Marine Industry Associations that brings together 43 nations) and, of particular note, in the official presentation of a study focused on decarbonisation within the yachting sector, a topic that had recently been addressed at the World Yachting Sustainability Forum organised by the Italian Marine Industry Association itself at the 63rd Genoa International Boat Show.
The next events that will see the involvement of the Italian Marine Industry Association alongside the Italian yachting industry will be the Association Members’ Assembly that will focus on “The Yachting Sector: Industry, Politics, Economy”, scheduled to take place in Rome on 14th December, and, as part of the international promotion initiatives carried out with the Italian Trade Agency, the institutional participation at the BOOT show in Düsseldorf, from 20th to 28th January 2024.
