INTERNATIONAL MARBLE AND GRANITE FAIR: 25 EDITIONS OF CONQUESTS AND RECOGNITION

In this edition of the Stone Fair new market came to supply the American market crises. Entrepreneurs from east Europe, Latin America, Asia and the Persian Golf made presence at the event. That also counted with bigger participation on the internal market. The exhibiting entrepreneurs said that in this edition there were a high number of potential clients.

The Fair counted with exhibitors and visitors from approximately 60 countries, among them Italy, China, Egypt, Turkey, Portugal, Germany, Peru, Argentina, Poland, Spain, India, France and America, Block Producers and commercializing, slabs and finished products, besides machines, equipments and related supplies of the sector. The event also had an expressive representation in the Brazilian market, bringing together, among others, the states of Bahia, Espírito Santo, Minas Gerais, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro. Bahia, Pará, Paraná, Paraíba, Pernambuco, Ceará, Piauí, Roraima, Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina.

With an increase of about 15% on the number of exhibiting companies, compared to the 2007 edition, the Vitória Stone Fair puts itself among the main events of Dimensional stones in the world, being a great show window for stones, for the immense variety of materials presented to the consuming market. There is no estimative on how much business was done, once most of the deals begin at the fair its concentrated for the next few months, said the president of Sindirochas, Áureo Mameri, the expectative is to have a 20% increase on exports in 2008.

Besides the exotic stones, that stands out for their beauty and rarity, and the classic stones, are popular again thanks to the new markets, new technologies also got the attention of entrepreneurs. In accordance to what the president from Cetemag said, Emic Malacarne Costa, the Fair presented the most modern in technology for improvement for the entrepreneurs.

“This edition was grand and beautiful, and had a more professional visitations, its years of hard work that makes the Stone Fair an event with dignity to be among the most representative of the world, that’s not only in numbers, but also in quality. We go for excellence, and our commitment is to always offer the best.”, said the organizer of the event, Cecilia Milanez, from Milanez & Milaneze.

The Vitoria Stone Fair counted with the participation of 14 international journalists, from countries like United States of America, Portugal, France, Germany, India, Italy and Poland. The visit was an initiative from the Brazilian Promotion Agency for Exportation and Investments (Apex-Brasil), Brazilian Dimensional Stone industry Association (Abirochas) and the Industry Union for Dimensional, Whitewash and Calcareous Stone Industries from Espírito Santo (Sindirochas). The journalists can confirm, at the Vitoria Stone Fair, the diversity and production leadership in the Brazilian segment.

Another highlight of the fair was the launching of the official Marble and Granite Route, by the State Secretary of Tourism (Setur), with a map that shows the distance and location of the main quarries in Espírito Santo. Once it is launched, the Route will be widely divulged together with the main travel agents in Brazil and abroad, making a business increment possible during the year for the sector.

The Brazilian dimensional stone sector projects an increase of about 30% on the exportation until 2011. In 2007, the Brazilian exportations registered revenue of about 1.1 billion dollars, that’s equivalent to 2.5 million tons.

The state of Espirito Santo is responsible for almost 48% of the Brazilian production of dimensional stones and concentrates 60% of the capacity of block beneficiation.

The Fair

The International Marble and Granite Fair is promoted by Cetemag and Sindirochas, and accomplished by Milanez & Milaneze and supported by various entities of the Brazilian stone sector. The goal is to promote arrangement and strengthen the production stone chain. The next editions of the event are Cachoeiro Stone Fair 2008, which will happen on August 26th – 29th of this year, in the city of Cachoeiro de Itapemirim, Espirito Santo, and the Vitoria Stone Fair 2009, which will happen on February 10th – 13th of 2009, again at the Carapina Expo Center, Serra, Espirito Santo.