Egypt 9-12 December 2013 Marmomacc and Samoter join forces for an unprecedented event in Cairo. The two Veronafiere exhibitions take excellence in the building, materials, know-how, technology and machinery field to North Africa's emerging markets. Veronafiere takes another step in its internationalisation programme for the construction industry. Cairo in Egypt will see the debut 9-12 December 2013 of MS Africa & Middle East, The International Trade Fair for Stone Design, Technology, Earthmoving and Building Machinery, a new and unprecedented event dedicated to marble, technologies, design and construction machinery. MS is named after Marmomacc (www.marmomacc.com) and Samoter (www.samoter.it), the two leading international exhibitions in their respective sectors (marble and natural stone, construction machinery), while Africa & Middle East focus attention on the building markets of North Africa and the Middle East. The initiative set in motion by Veronafiere in collaboration with its Egyptian partner Art Line was presented during the 47th edition of Marmomacc in Verona last 26-29 September. The economies of Egypt and other North African countries are considered to be strategic for the development of internatoinal activities by Samoter and Marmomacc. Egypt enjoys a preferential geographical position that naturally candidates the country's role as regional hub, thanks also to commercial agreements (Comesa, Gafta) with most countries in the continent which, among other things, have enabled significant cuts in customs duties. Moreover, Egypt does not currently host such a specialist international exhibition in two such closely related sectors. The categories in the stone field will range from marble and natural stones through to processing technology and design, while as regards machinery will include all systems used in quarries and on construction sites (earthmoving, hoisting/lifting, attachment) and aggregate processing (concrete, asphalt and crushing). From a more technical point of view, the first edition of MS Africa & Middle East is scheduled in Cairo 9-12 December 2013 at the Cairo International Convention and Exhibition Centre (CICC) while awaiting the completion of the new Cairo Expo City designed by architect Zaha Hadid in collaboration with Buro Happold. The exhibition will occupy an area of about 5000 square meters and will be open free of charge to professional operators. The costs for exhibitors are very competitive and will range for inside locations from 170 euro/sq.m. for bare area to 195 euro/sq.m. for areas with basic set-ups. Activities will be followed up by Veronafiere's international organisation and in any case the event can also count on the major commitment for promoting the Samoter and Marmomacc brands nationally and internationally (Marmomacc already boasts 60% of foreign exhibitors, while the last edition of Samoter achieved 30%) as well as the know-how of Egyptian partner Art Line. The exhibition's main professional visitors are expected to come not only from Egypt but also from countries in North Africa and the Middle East: in this context, Cairo is an authentic gateway to these markets and much easier to reach than Verona not the least in terms of language, visa procedures and distances.
