INTERNATIONAL ceramic majors are gearing up to showcase their cutting-edge wares at Cevisama 2014, which will be held early next year (February 11 to 14) at Feria Valencia’s exhibition and convention centre in Valencia, Spain.

Feria Valencia, the event’s organiser, says that the number of exhibitors for next year’s event have crossed the 2013 tally of 673, adding that confirmed participants include leading players from the ceramic industry and related sectors, in addition to trendsetters in Spain and abroad, who see Cevisama as a vital business platform.

Cevisama is a leading international exhibition of ceramics for architecture, bathroom and kitchen fittings, natural stone, raw materials, frits, glazes, colorants and machinery and the 2013 edition was held over an area of 100,000 sq m.

 “One of our top priorities for 2014 is to strengthen Cevisama as the major showcase for European ceramic products,” said Cevisama director Carmen Álvarez. 

“We know manufacturers from our Mediterranean neighbours – especially Italy – would find in Cevisama a great business opportunity and the chance to get a toehold in markets where we’re already consolidating our position, like Russia, the Maghreb and the Middle East,” Álvarez explained.

Strengthening the presence of international visitors will once again be a top priority for Cevisama, which is also aiming to attract an increasing number of quality buyers to the show of innovation.

The 2014 edition will aim to tap prospects of the emerging markets such as sub-Saharan Africa, Asia and Latin America, which will join the mature markets like the European Union, the US, Eastern Europe and the Middle East, where ‘made in Spain’ products are already well established.

Though Cevisama hopes to grow by bringing in visitors from emerging countries, it has no intention of ignoring its traditional markets like the EU countries, said Álvarez.

“In short, our goal is to make the show even more international by expanding what we have on offer and wooing new, high-quality buyers in to see the wares,” he said.

As many as 61,000 visitors and buyers from 140 countries across all five continents are expected to attend the 2014 edition, of which 85 per cent will come from Europe, seven per cent from Asia, five per cent from Africa, two per cent from America, and one per cent from Oceania.

Cevisama 2014 is scheduled to coincide with Feria Hábitat Valencia for furniture, lighting, kitchen, and home textiles; Fimma for machinery for the processing of wood and furniture; and Maderalia for components of the furniture and wood industry.

Each of these three trade shows is a leader in its sphere, and shares strong synergies with Cevisama. Together they aim to offer a unique event called ‘See you in Valencia 2014’ dedicated to home, architecture, interior design and decoration.