The first of the big Italian trade fairs, Marmotec in Carrara, is being staged this year from 29 May to 1 June.

The organisers say it has an even more significant role following the terrorist attack on New York on 11 September as it will offer all the world\'s operators an opportunity to meet and discuss both the current situation and future prospects.

And there is a more international group of exhibitors than ever, especially from North Africa, Eastern Europe (notably the Balkans) and Asia, so if you are looking for new sources of stone you could be in luck. Iran, India, Pakistan and China are all also participating.

The number of foreign exhibitors is, say Carrara, the fruit of a huge promotional campaign. The Italians have been talking to the Chambers of Commerce of Queensland in Australia, Cairo and Tunis in North African, Izmir in Turkey and Salonika in Greece. They have also forged links with the Chambers of Commerce in Lisbon, Madrid and Marseilles; Zurich, The Hague, Stockholm and Brussels.

Internazionale Marmi e Macchine (IMM), who run the show, say the new exhibitors will contribute, along with more traditional participants, to making the 23rd International Fair for Marble, Machinery & Services the most important event for the sector.

Last year, Carrara had 862 exhibitors, including 112 foreign companies, from 30 different countries covering an area of 30,000m2.

The backdrop to the show is the Apuan Alps behind the port of Carrara, the source of the famous white Carrara marble.

In the area there are, say IMM, 1,093 stone companies employing 6,622 people, and 164 machinery and service companies employing 1,452 people, while highly-qualified research and services institutions are a source of information and contacts.

Through a close co-operation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ICE (Foreign Trade Institute) and the Region Tuscany, visits have been arranged of many delegations of architects and other professionals from all over the world.

The events and meetings during the fair will also contribute to the information available about the materials, technology and specialist services. The restoration sector has become an important part of the fair and, once again, an area will be devoted to it.

During the show the latest statistical analysis of the world stone market will be published and there will be a seminar on the latest European regulations.

Conferences will discuss the need to protect the reputation of natural stone from misleading claims by competing man-made products and a comparison of marble production and application in different countries.

And the Marble Architectural Award will be presented. Each year the contest is between architects from different parts of the world and this time it focuses on North Africa and the Middle East.