Italian eyewear plays leading role in Dubai
Over twenty Italian companies arrived in Dubai to take part in the 2008 edition of Vision X, the Middle East's major event dedicated to the optics and eyewear sector. As well as individual participants, a collective of 14 companies organized by the Institute for Foreign Trade and by ANFAO - Associazione Nazionale Fabbricanti Articoli Ottici (Italian Optical Goods Manufacturers' Association) - will be dedicated to Made in Italy eyewear.
There is confirmation that the eyewear industry is the driving force behind I-style: from January to September 2007, Italy's worldwide fashion exports showed an overall increase of 5.4% against the same period 2006, but eyewear had two-figure growth of +14.2%, an upturn of +34% compared to January-September 2005, and exceeded Euro 1,720 million. The positive trend in 2006 was therefore reflected in the nine-month 2007 period.
Major success for sunglasses: their unquestionable quality is appreciated by the entire world and exports increased by 15.6% to over Euro 1,136 million. Exports of vision frames increased by the slightly lower, but still significant, figure of +11.1%, with turnover of over Euro 548 million.
In the Middle East in particular there is considerable space for top-quality eyewear. Consumers in the region spend large sums on glasses, which is mainly due to their considerable purchasing power and a climate that is a strong incentive for wearing sunglasses.
In the January-September 2007 period, Italy's eyewear exports to the Arab Emirates were exceptional: +41.2% overall, with +44.7% for sunglasses compared to the same period 2006.Currently, Italy's total exports to the Arab Emirates stand at over Euro 35 million. Especially interesting is the trend in the export of sunglasses, whose value has tripled since 2000. After a few unexceptional years, the export of frames also appears to be making a recovery.
In 2007, Italy's market share was around 2% of total exports in the sector (in 2000 it was 0.9%) and it is now one of the first ten exporting countries in the sunglasses and frames segment overall.
'The collective in Dubai is ANFAO's first official visit to the main foreign markets in 2008' commented ANFAO vice president Paolo Cannicci responsible for internationalization. 'Vision X will be followed by the International Optics Fair in Shanghai, where we will have an Italy Point together with ICE, then comes Moscow in March, with an Italy Point at the International Salon of Ophthalmologic Optics and an important fashion show dedicated to Made in Italy, which has been a customary appointment in Moscow's important marketplace for five years'.
