More than 1,400 exhibitors from 56 countries are preparing to deacmp for Verona and set up their stands for the Marmomacc exhibition there 24-27 September, one of the world's main stone shows.

With new entries from Malta, Mexico, Thailand, Ukraine and Zimbabwe, the entire exhibition centre is fully booked. It covers 75,000m².

The stone industry in Italy consists of 3,340 companies, 33,700 employees and turnover of Euros3.9billion (source: Confindustria Marmomacchine). In Verona you can see all aspects of the industry, from raw blocks to processed materials, machinery and equipment for marble and granite through to training courses and teaching tools for architects.

This year, the show ties in with the world of design even closer, as it has joined forces with Abitare Il Tempo (www.abitareiltempo.it), the exhibition devoted to the contract, interior decoration and furnishing / furniture sector and the shows coincide in Verona, so that architects, designers, clients, developers and the tardes can visit both.

As always, Marmomacc has s a strong focus on international demand as a crucial aspect for promoting processed marble and 'Made in Italy' technology – in 2013 Italy exported 71.5% of production with a positive balance of trade of Euro2.4billion.

Italian exhibitors at Marmomacc say the top 10 markets of interest to them are the United States, Russia, China, Italy, Brazil, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, India and Turkey. This is why Veronafiere, through its network of foreign delegates and in collaboration with Confindustria Marmomacchine and ICE-Italian Agency for International Promotion & Internationalisation of Italian Companies, has worked to attract qualified and selected stone industry and contract buyers to Marmomacc with the aim of involving them in training programs, B2B appointments with exhibitors and meetings with international groups