ICE and ANFAO take Made in Italy eyewear to Panama.

The global economy is undergoing a truly complex moment and the industry’s companies, especially small and medium-size enterprises, need support. This is why ICE - Agency for promotion abroad and internationalisation, in partnership with ANFAO – Italian Association for Optical Goods Manufacturers, has organised an operational mission to Panama for 9 and 10 November. The mission is part of a wider project of promotion and internationalisation that for years has allowed Anfao partner companies to participate collectively in the most important trade fairs as well as in extraordinary initiatives such as this one in Central America.

The Panama workshop has been set up to introduce Italian eyewear to the strategic markets of Central America, a geographic area with strong potential that is interested in quality manufactured goods from Italy. This geographic area has seen various initiatives particularly in Miami and, in 2019, for the first time in Panama. The appointments scheduled for 2020 and 2021 were obviously moved to this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

A complete range of Made in Italy goods

Italian companies will present a selection of their collections, representing the expertise that underlies its roots in history and in the artisan tradition of Italian Style. The offer will be thorough and varied, and will comprise different price ranges and types of product.

The buyers

There will be around 40 buyers (opticians, chains, distributors, importers, etc.) from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela, who will take part in the workshop. The industry professionals in attendance will be selected by Anfao and ICE, following precise criteria: the possibility of importing, parties interested in Made in Italy and independent eyewear and all types of glasses proposed, stores with multiple retail points or specialised in exclusive eyewear.

The location

The selected location is the Sky salon, on the top floor of Hotel Sortis in Panama City, previously the workshop location in 2019 and confirmed as ideal for this type of event.

As well as these two days, the Italian companies will have the chance to network in an exclusive event on Wednesday evening, again in Hotel Sortis, where the manager of the ICE office of Bogotá, Acilio Rizzello (who also manages the Panama area) will be present.