Vicenzaoro Highlights, September 2025: Vicenza System Ready for the Challenge

Vicenzaoro opened its doors yesterday to its current September edition, exactly one year prior to the “unveiling” of the new Expo Center in 2026, the result of a €60 million investment supported entirely by internal capital from IEG Italian Exhibition Group. This huge project conceived by those who, with long-term global vision, made it their main ambition to become the international reference for the jewelry world. Prerequisites that were introduced during the opening ceremony, held in the Palladio Theater, by IEG President Maurizio Ermeti’s welcome speech, who began by emphasizing how «over the last nine years, or rather, since the fusion between IEG and Fiera di Vicenza, the event has seen constant growth and is now at the center of a truly global network, attracting the attention of over 600 international buyers and populated by 1,200 exhibitors from 30 countries. This result strengthens Vicenza's role as the capital of jewelry, which is further appreciated thanks to the now customary VIOFF, the off-show event organized in collaboration with Vicenza Municipality and Confcommercio that enlivens the city with installations, artistic window displays and cultural initiatives.» Mayor Giacomo Possamai then took the floor and resumed the discussion of the master plan for the entire exhibition area’s urban redevelopment with the creation also of 2,000 parking spaces in the vicinity. Next came Provincial President Andrea Nardin: «This project is part of a profound transformation of the area, where the high-speed rail construction sites are redesigning the road network and mobility system, opening up new connection and development prospects: more opportunities for businesses, more services for citizens, and greater visibility for our region.» The task of paying an emotional tribute to Giorgio Armani fell to Matteo Zoppas, president of the Italian Trade Agency, who emphasized how the designer had helped to create and breathe new life into the world of jewelry, an extended fashion category, inspiring entire generations of entrepreneurs and promoting Made in Italy products. «It is an exception for Made in Italy not to grow, because when its full potential is expressed, it cannot help but do so. In 2024, exports reached €623 billion, but we are not stopping there. On the contrary, it has encouraged every institution, starting with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to reach the 700 billion milestone, despite concerns about tariffs and the slowdown in key markets such as the US and Turkey.» Maurizio Forte, head of the Made in Italy Promotion section, testified to the importance of economic diplomacy, reminding the audience of entrepreneurs in attendance that the Italian Trade Agency, as well as the entire network of embassies and consulates, provide companies with numerous tools to support their development. Claudia Piaserico, made her last speech as president of Federorafi Confindustria listing the many actions carried out during her four-year term in collaboration with all the jewelry industry’s national associations: «I am coming to the end of my term of office with a positive balance sheet, during which we have strengthened the reputation of Made in Italy by focusing on strategic assets: internationalization, innovation, sustainability, culture and legality, education, promotion and supply chain marketing. The results tell us that, in order to face present and future challenges, we must continue to nurture the content and value of Made in Italy, a compendium of innovation and craftsmanship.» As a final remark, after pointing out that, thanks to agreements with large retailers, the US alone generated an additional $350 million in turnover, Piaserico underlined the importance of teamwork also mentioning the first edition of the recently concluded Vicenza Symposium, a much sought after event by IEG and two competing companies, Legor Group and Progold, all models of healthy entrepreneurship that, going beyond the logic of their own business, look to the wellbeing of the sector. Regional Councilor Roberto Marcato closed the event with an overview of the situation: «The jewelry sector in Veneto boasts around 1,200 companies, including 870 artisan businesses, with over 6,600 employees. More than half of these companies are located in the Vicenza area, where 77% of the sector's workforce is employed. These figures consolidate equally significant exports: while exports in 2023 amounted to over €2.1 billion (+1.7% more than in 2022), in 2024 the Vicenza gold district exported almost €2.5 billion (+14.9% compared to the previous year), mainly to the US, the United Arab Emirates and Turkey. These are truly significant numbers, considering that, in aggregate terms, Vicenza accounts for over 20% of total national exports and Veneto for 26%. At the moment, however, we are concerned about the increase in the cost of raw materials, political instability in some of Veneto's traditional markets, and the tariffs introduced by the US and Turkey. These critical issues also affect the luxury sector and must be addressed by diversifying target markets and focusing more greatly on Europe, for example, which currently receives only 20% of Veneto's jewellery products.»