The 'Eyewear District' travels to Silmo in Paris

This year, 17 companies have been brought together by Assindustria Belluno - Division of Producers of Eyewear Articles - to participate at Silmo in Paris. The 17 firms will promote the Veneto region, and the province of Belluno in particular, through the highly distinctive stand, the Info Point and the Dolomites, featured in a book that exhibitors will give away to customers.

Thanks to the 40% contribution from the Veneto Region applicable to the District Law, Brillarte, D'arrigo Moda Italia, Fao Flex, Galvision, Garrison, Glad, Iride, Kador Occhialeria, Luxol, Mg Vision, Mistral, Martini Occhialeria, Piloni, Top Color, Risottica, Valottica and will be present with 300 square meters of space at Pavilion 1 of the trade fair, and they will collectively promote the image of the Eyewear District.

The Info Point will occupy its own area of 50 square meters. It will also showcase some of the food specialties that characterize the province of Belluno: Serbosco sauces, Biasiotto wines, grappa and other Primizie Paris items, Lattebusche cheese, Gretti Ermen charcuterie, Procaffè coffee and Unterberger speck (smoked ham). These food industries are thus bringing their finest specialties to Paris.

The District's promotional strategy is also distinguished by another key element. Through the contribution of the Cipa Consortium, the 17 exhibitors will give customers visiting their stands a complementary book about the Dolomite Mountains. This volume, featuring numerous breathtaking photographs, is yet another way of linking a high-quality product with an area that is unique the world over.

During the press conference Giorgio Ciotti, President of the Division of Producers of Eyewear Articles (Sipao) of Assindustria Belluno, the provincial manufacturers' association, emphasized that the small companies of the District continue to suffer the economic slump, but that the latest surveys have yielded timid signs of optimism about the future.

Sipao is making enormous efforts, above all in relation to the SMEs of the District. For the coming months, its goal is to support these companies in the activity that represents their weak point: marketing. Therefore, the plans for 2005 include a collective SIPAO show in Shanghai, with fashion shows and tasting sessions featuring typical foods, as well as a trade mission to Japan.