Made in Italy Flies to Singapore

“We are fully operational with IEG ASIA regarding the events acquired last February. We are aiming for results in both food & beverage and catering equipment and jewelry, thanks to the expertise of our Sigep and Vicenzaoro shows, the strategic nature of the Singapore hub, and the prestigious scenario coordinated by the Singapore Tourism Board. Through IEG ASIA, we will also favor the presence of customers and public from ASEAN countries at our events in Rimini and Vicenza, with business spin-offs in the respective territories.” These were the words of Corrado Peraboni, CEO of IEG on 25^th May, the day when IEG ASIA operations were announced. An important milestone that expands the structure of the Italian Exhibition Group, giving substance to a project that began a few years ago.

Francesco Santa, the Group’s International Business Development Director, explains: «IEG is certainly the largest trade show organizer in Italy with a substantial difference compared to any other competitor: we own 95% of the shows held at our Expo Centers. We are therefore the makers of our own destiny, both in Rimini and Vicenza and in terms of international development. The exploit began three years ago with the so-called “4x4 business project” put into effect by our CEO: 4 flagship products in 4 countries, a policy that has led Vicenzaoro, Ecomondo, Sigep and Rimini Wellness to be present in various European countries, North and South America, China, the UAE and Asia. There were two reasons for this: to offer our exhibitors in Italy a foreign marketplace and to attract foreign exhibitors to Italy. All this was made possible through strategic partnerships with big local players or through the acquisition of trade show formats that already presided over the area. As a rule, this strategy includes the appointment of an Italian CEO, which has always been the case, with the exception of China, where, for linguistic reasons, we preferred to rely on local people. In Singapore, on the other hand, we opted for a professional who already knew that specific market: Ilaria Cicero».

Here is Ilaria Cicero’s opinion of the situation in Asia: «Singapore and the ASEAN area means 600 million people with double-digit GDP growth in almost every country. It is that “slice” of the world which, excluding China, has the best development potential. Moreover, the decision to go East was also dictated by the fact that Vicenzaoro is already well known in the USA, while buyers from the Far East are still few in number. Therefore, this will also be a good opportunity to promote our shows and Made in Italy companies. The 2023 edition of SIJE will be the 18^th: 6,000 square meters of exhibition space inside the luxurious Marina Bay Sands Expo & Convention Centre with BtoB and BtoC areas, which we will aim to increase next year, possibly expanding the selection to the entire supply chain, just like at Vicenzaoro. So, not only jewelry, but also high-tech, gems, components, packaging…».

the Group’s International Business Development Director