A NEW stone fair called MediStone Expo is to be held in Bari, Italy, next year. The event, which is being organised by CarraraFiere in co-operation with EffeEvents, will represent a meeting point for the Italian natural stone industry and the local market which is demonstrating high vitality.

The expo will take place at the Fiera del Levante fairground in Bari from May 15 to 18, 2013. It will showcase the stone industry in its entirety – from rough materials to finished products, including quarrying, processing and finishing technologies as well as sculpture, handling and transportation machines, stone associations and specialised press.

The expo, which will be held over an area of 20,000 sq m, will in its first edition aim to showcase the products and expertise of least 200 exhibitors and attract more than 10,000 visitors. In order to widen business opportunities for the participants, B2B meetings will be held during the exhibition.

The organisers said the fair will be an excellent opportunity for local companies to showcase their products with the support of the local institutions, the region, the city councils of Bari, Apricena and Trani, Confindustria Puglia, ADI (Industrial Design Association), AIPI (Internal Design Association), the Tuscany Region and the Carrara City Council.
The event is also supported by the Ministry for the Economic Development and by the Italian Institute for Foreign Trade.

Nichi Vendola, president of Regione Puglia, emphasised the need for stimulating the economy with new initiatives: “This new exhibition is a tangible opportunity as the stone industry represents a success for our exports in the first place and the main element of growth for the economy of our region.”