The very best of Italian design flair to be showcased at Index 2006

'With over 120 companies, the Italian business group co-ordinated by Federlegno-Arredo will occupy over three thousand square metres at this year's Index,' said Kim Willis, Exhibition Development Director of dmg world media Dubai, the organisers of the event. 'This underlines the trend of non-stop growth of the Italian participation - since 1997, when Federlegno-Arredo chose to be present at Index for the first time, the area devoted to its companies has significantly increased, with a growth of 67%, primarily as a result of market business forecasts and the effectiveness of Index as a business event.'

The most significant indicator is the strong growth witnessed over the last two years, which has seen the floorspace dedicated to the Italian group increase by over a thousand square metres.

Official figures show that Italian exports of wood and furniture to the UAE stood at €212.28 million in 2005 (a growth of almost 226% since 1992), and by the end of the first five months of 2006 already totalled €87.84 million.

The furnishing industry in Italy represents different realities sharing a common manufacturing culture that identifies the high level of Italian production, embracing not only quality, creativity and ability, but also handicraft tradition, research and technological innovation.

The market leadership that the Italian furniture industry enjoys today has been achieved thanks to a high expansion rate within international markets. Evidence of this success is the number of employees (410,000 in total) who contributed to achieve total sales amounting to €37 billion (over US$45 billion) in 2005, out of which more than 32% was in overseas markets.

The high quality of Italian products is achieved through the type of materials used, adherence to the most stringent international standards, careful selection processes and accurate manufacturing technologies. However, product quality also refers to the inherent quality of Italian design, which has found a successful way to express itself in furnishing thanks to experimentation in this area. This is the result of a strong cooperation between companies and designers, allowing them to satisfy any requirements in terms of taste, functionality, comfort and safety. In fact, design is the distinctive feature of the Italian industry in the world, the product innovation booster and the strategy for competitiveness. It is not a coincidence that outstanding Italian designers have become integral parts of the history of international design over the past 50 years by cooperating with Italian companies in this sector, thus shaping and laying the foundations for the modern tradition of Italian lifestyle.

To achieve such levels in the furnishing industry in Italy, considerable amounts of money are invested in research and development, and companies investing very high percentages of their turnover into this area, frequently putting the results of their research at the disposal of third parties. Thanks to this, something happened that has never happened in any other country: both designers and small manufacturers got indispensable technical support allowing them to manufacture the fruit of their talent and initiative. This has allowed them to extend their production range in order to respond to the increasingly segmented, demanding and sophisticated requirements of end-users who follow the latest changes in taste and fashion. This type of manufacturing organisation allows high flexibility, considerable efficiency and a strong ability to spread the use of new technologies and materials.

With over 2,300 member companies, Federlegno-Arredo is the global expression of this increasingly developing industry, representing the entire Italian wood value chain, from raw material to finished products: forestry, timber processing, semi-finished wood products, wood panels, furniture and furnishing, lighting appliances, office furniture, kitchen furniture, bathroom furnishings and fittings, doors, windows and contracts. The organization also plans and implements strategies to support and promote the growth of the competitive level of Italian companies in markets all over the world.

The extensive Italian Pavilion at Index 2006 (in Halls 6, 7 & 8 of Dubai International Exhibition Centre) will feature companies that are specialists in the production of tables, chairs, upholstered furniture, beds, lighting fixtures, accessories, doors, furnishing articles and furniture in general, all featuring the aesthetics and functionality that have contributed to the success of 'Made in Italy' on international markets.

'We recognised the need to be present in new markets, particularly those where we are anticipating interesting growth new opportunities, with an innovative approach,' said Gianluca Marvelli, Managing Director of Koh-i-noor and Project Manager of Federlegno-Arredo's Internationalisation committee. 'As a result, our institutional stand has been given a scenographic layout with a high multimedia content. The project, by Milan-based Studio Fast Forward, will make its international debut at Index 2006.'

Index 2006 sees the event celebrating 16 highly successful years in the region. Internationally acknowledged as one of the world's most important showcases of the very best in furniture and interior design, the organisers continually enhance the show to make it even more effective for the region's key interior designers, architects, consultants and specifiers, and this year it will offer even stronger focus on specific product areas that are of particular relevance across the region.

'The show's global reputation is based on its strength in the textiles, furniture, wallcoverings and residential lighting sectors,' added Willis. 'Among the many product areas that have been significantly expanded this year are residential lighting and flooring.'

Index, the Middle East's International Furniture And Interior Design Exhibition, takes place from 7-11 November 2006 at Dubai International Exhibition Centre.