The city of Pesaro, one of Italy's main furniture manufacturing districts, hosted two days of Business to Business (B2B) meetings recently between 100 Italian companies and 110 foreign operators from Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Iraq, Russia, Ukraine and Poland to explore business opportunities in the furniture industry. Foreign operators who were invited to take part in the B2B meetings come from countries that are experiencing 7-10 percent growth and are specialized in the sale of bedrooms, living rooms, fully-fitted kitchens, children's bedrooms, office furniture, etc. Saudi Arabia contributed to the success of the initiative by sending a nine-member business delegation headed by Assistant Secretary General of the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) Mohi'aldin Yahya Hakami. The event was organized by Italy's Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Handicraft and Agriculture (CCIAA) of Pesaro and Urbino in collaboration with ASPIN 2000, a branch of the CCIAA in charge of promoting the internationalization of local firms, and Fiere delle Marche (Marche Fairs), the official trade show system for the Marche region and the Adriatic. CCIAA President of Pesaro and Urbino Alberto Drudi inaugurated the event by remembering the victims of the earthquake that recently stroke North Italy and said they hoped for a revival of the Italian furniture industry that, despite its huge potentials, is facing a period of crisis. “These meetings represent a unique occasion to find new buyers and re-launch the furniture industry in Pesaro and the entire country. I wish, for this reason, that solid and fruitful relations will be established between the participating companies,” said Drudi. After the opening ceremony, Drudi and CCIAA Secretary General Fabrizio Schiavoni held private talks with JCCI's Hakami, Board Member of the Jordan Chamber of Commerce Ala El Din Diranieh, President of the Iraqi Businessmen Association in Jordan Mohammed Al Hadeethi and other important international guests from Russia and Eastern Europe. “Italian firms were lacking the necessary economic strength to set up stands for the usual appointment of the Domo Classic Fair,” explained Schiavoni. “The organization of this international gathering represents an effort to change this situation, allow foreign companies, especially from Eastern Europe and the Middle East, to explore Italian links and promote the encounter between supply and demand,” he added. President of Fiera delle Marche, Mario Formica, was particularly optimistic and revealed his vision for the following year: “This gathering could represent the prologue to a great furniture fair in 2013 that will showcase design, style, new technological developments, fashion and future trends.” __
