Also in the 2025 edition of MARMO+MAC, our Association once again confirmed its role as a key point of reference for the entire Italian stone and stone-technology industry, reaffirming its position as an institutional hub and a bridge connecting companies, institutions, and international stakeholders throughout the sector.
The Associative Meeting Point, located as tradition in the heart of Hall 2, served over four intense days as a true crossroads of relationships, meetings, and strategic discussions on the perspectives and future of the industry. It hosted high-level exchanges with Italian and foreign institutional representatives, technical insights, and valuable networking moments with our Member Companies.
Among the most significant highlights was the signing, on the opening day, of the agreement between ICE – the Italian Trade Agency – and the Mineral Industry Development Institute (MIDI) for the establishment of a Technology Center in Ethiopia, as well as the creation of the Steering and Monitoring Committee for the Technology Center in Algeria. Both projects, supported by the Association, stand as tangible proof of CONFINDUSTRIA MARMOMACCHINE’s ongoing commitment to promoting the internationalization of Italian know-how in natural stone processing.
On the same day, the Association – represented by its President, Gianluca Pellegrino – took part in the MARMO+MAC 2025 Opening Panel, attended by Tommaso Foti, Minister for European Affairs, Luca Zaia, Governor of the Veneto Region, Matteo Zoppas, President of ITA – Italian Trade Agency, and Federico Bricolo, President of Veronafiere, who officially welcomed all participants.
Throughout the event, several coordination meetings with MAECI and ICE were held to plan upcoming training and technical cooperation activities in Ethiopia and Algeria. Further institutional meetings took place with delegations from Ghana, Iran, and Pakistan, as well as with representatives of the UDAIPUR International Centre for Visual Arts, confirming the growing focus on cooperation between Italy and the world’s leading natural-stone producing and processing countries.
Ample space was also dedicated to technical discussion and knowledge sharing, including the seminar “MARMOintelligente” – promoted and organized by the Association in cooperation with its Technical Partners Maxfone, Schneider Electric, and Siemens – and participation in the conference “Marble and Circularity”, featuring contributions by Honorary President Flavio Marabelli and Eng. Paolo Marone of IS.I.M., which explored the key themes of innovation and sustainability in the stone industry.
The trade fair days were also enlivened by more informal but equally valuable occasions, such as the “TheMARMOMACCHINEHours” networking aperitifs, fostering dialogue and engagement among companies, institutions, and professionals – a testament to a community built on cohesion and continuous growth.
As the exhibition continued, the Association also took part in the official establishment of the NSSA – Natural Stone Strategic Alliance, in several initiatives promoted by PNA – including the presentation of the new Italian Sectoral EPD – and in the EUROROC General Assembly, confirming CONFINDUSTRIA MARMOMACCHINE’s active and recognized presence within the main international bodies of the sector.
Finally, the spotlight of the media was not missing: interviews and appearances on TG1, Il Sole 24 Ore, and Telearena gave voice to the key themes emerging during the event, highlighting the central role of the Italian stone industry and of our Association as a privileged interlocutor for the promotion and representation of the entire supply chain.
