At a press conference in Milan, Lorraine Berton, the new Chair of ANFAO, and Giovanni Vitaloni, Chair of MIDO, set forth the future partnership of the association and the fair. The shared approach marking their mandates was clear from the outset, with manufacturing excellence in an industry working towards internationalisation acting as the driving force.
Berton explained the division of the two administrations, held by Vitaloni until the ANFAO assembly at the end of November: “For the next year and a half, the Chair will remain with Confindustria Belluno as it would be impossible to perform all the roles with due precision. I have accepted the position of Chair at ANFAO next to Giovanni, who has agreed to remain at the head of MIDO for the next two years. We are a team, a team which will work together and exchange views in order to optimise our joint synergy.”
During the session, both underlined the importance and value of Italian companies, the flagship of the international eyewear industry: “In Italy there is tradition, culture: we must safeguard these qualities and develop them. It's not easy, the global market is complex, but we need to promote Made in Italy manufacturing, a strategy adopted by most of our companies”, declared Vitaloni.
His statements were backed up by the new Chair of ANFAO: “The most beautiful eyewear is made in Italy and it is essential to safeguard the true Made in Italy sector. I like to remember when, together with other entrepreneurs, we travelled the world with suitcases full of our glasses. This world emerged like this, even the big companies were founded like this, and we have to preserve our love of manufacturing, of being Italian, remembering that nobody else can do what we do here in Italy. The eyewear industry has overcome difficult moments in the last few years - I remember that the Covid pandemic arrived just a few days before the 2020 MIDO event - and we showed that we are still “the suitcase entrepreneurs”. This will continue to take us far, because remember: whoever has a suitcase will never stop travelling, they will never stand still”.
The Chair of ANFAO also wished to highlight the listening skills of the association and its ability to react to the needs of modern industry: “Today, ANFAO encloses a whole world of elements that, 40 years ago, were not considered: sustainability, welfare, and artificial intelligence, to name but a few. We are ready to face them all.”
Berton then shifted attention to the fundamental role played by MIDO: “With MIDO, the association and the eyewear district have the largest communication system and, if we want to promote Made in Italy manufacturing, we have to organise an event that goes beyond the concept of fair, to welcome visitors from all over the world. MIDO is a crucial moment for the development of our companies”.
“The appointment with MIDO is scheduled from 3 to 5 February at Fieramilano, Rho: we will be returning to exhibitor numbers comparable to those of 2019, and we will have 7 pavilions covering 42,000 sq.m. with a 20% increase of exhibitors compared with the 2023 edition”, added Vitaloni.
