The Italian Center for Commercial Affairs-USA (ICCA-USA) will present "Made in Italy Innovation Expo 2004" at the Westchester County Center in White Plains, N.Y., October 29 - 31, to showcase Italy's newest, most innovative, delicious and healthful products.
The three-day event, designed to increase commercial and cultural exchanges between the United States and Italy, is expected to attract an audience of several thousand importers, exporters, retailers and consumers.
"Made in Italy Innovation Expo 2004" will feature Italian products each day between 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. for the trade and from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. for the public..
Other Expo highlights will include wine and food tastings, strolling Italian entertainers, art exhibits, a Ferrari/Maserati car show, exhibits on famous Italian-Americans and information about tourism. Additionally, ICCA-USA will provide information and specific assistance with trade regulations, transportation and freight brokerage for import before, during and after the Expo.
"The County Center is an ideal location for the Expo because more than one out of five residents in Westchester is of Italian descent. Equally important, the Center is easily reached by the surrounding New York City, New Jersey, Connecticut and Hudson Valley audiences that enjoy all things Italian," said Enzo Pizzimenti, president of ICCA-USA. "It will be a perfect opportunity to sample and celebrate the best that Italy has to offer."
Pizzimenti, who is the organizer of the Expo, added, "We expect that the number of area companies doing business with Italy will rise dramatically as a result of the interest generated by 'Made in Italy Innovation Expo 2004' products."
More than 40 Italian exporters have already signed up to display their wares at the County Center. They include distributors of leather goods and shoes, wine and wine making equipment, pasta, vinegar, jewelry, perfumes, furniture, house wares, fashions and accessories, and creative gift baskets.
"Most of the products on display will also be for sale to the general public, so this will be a wonderful opportunity for people to get a head start on their holiday gift buying," Pizzimenti pointed out.
He and Marsha Gordon, president and CEO of the Business Council of Westchester, which is co-sponsoring the Expo, note that many of the trade partnerships formed during the three-day event with the help of ICCA-USA will be based on Italian products new to the American market. Other co-sponsors of the event are the Italian Trade Commission and Italian Ministry for Economy and Finance.
"Innovation will be a major theme of the exposition because Italy has always been an 'idea incubator' and leader in bringing high quality new products to the international marketplace," Pizzimenti said.
A filmed interview with the world renowned expert on innovation, Dr. Edward deBono, furthering the Expo theme, will run throughout the weekend, coupled with the premiere of unique Italian products. Included among the products to be introduced to the American public will be a custom ice cream prepared in only five minutes via a natural base and new freezer machinery and a natural tomato sauce in a powdered form that retains its flavor and quality when prepared. Wine aficionados and food lovers will sample wines and very fine olive oils that have not been imported to the United States as of yet, while Expo visitors interested in decorative arts will be given a preview of Italian art that incorporates real waterfalls into its scenes and is framed for wall hanging.
Additional information about "Made in Italy Innovation Expo 2004" can be obtained by calling ICCA-USA at 914-939-0110 or by visiting its website: www.americadesk-icca.com.
The Italian Center for Commercial Affairs-USA is headquartered in Rye Brook, NY, and maintains an Americadesk in Milan, Italy, to facilitate exports from all regions of Italy. ICCA-USA also works with businesses, cultural organizations and educ
