Upakovka/UpakItalia-2012: Italian exposition still rides a high horse
The 20th edition of UPAKOVKA/UPAK ITALIA, the International Trade Fair Packaging Machinery, Packaging Production and Packaging Material opens today in Moscow. The event is traditionally viewed as a key opportunity to establish and strengthen commercial ties with the Russian packaging industry.
This edition of UPAK ITALIA will feature a growing presence of Italian companies, both in terms of size and number. As many as 63 exhibitors are from Italy, spread over a surface area of over 1500 square meters representing an industry with a stunning total turnover of €7.8 billion which exports over 80% of the output, 4.2% of which to the Russian market. Such strong participation reinforces the excellent figures reported in the past edition and is a source of satisfaction for the organizers. Centrexpo spa – Messe Duesseldorf’s partner in charge of coordinating the Italian participation in Upakovka – was in fact faced with a particularly challenging organizational scenario following the momentary closing of ICE (the Italian Trade Institute) in mid-July 2011, which deprived the event organizer of a long-standing key partner in supporting Italian companies participating in the exhibition.
Centrexpo met the challenge by quickly reorganizing and, in order to ensure continuity in the traditional collective participation of Italian companies, taking direct charge of Italy’s presence at the event through an impactful, high-quality participation package and the creation of a fully equipped Service Center on the exhibition grounds, accessible free of charge to all Italian exhibitors.
“We are amazed by the response of Italian companies: in spite of the crisis there is an enthusiastic interest in participating in the exhibition, a true gateway to a crucial market offering many opportunities – says Centrexpo spa CEO Guido Corbella. - Once again, small and medium-size companies prove to be much more reactive than large ones when it comes to seizing valuable opportunities. The massive participation of Italian exhibitors in the event bears testimony to this, in spite of the failing financial support by the Italian Trade Commission”.
