GIMAV released a statement, signed by President Michele Gusti, regarding GIMAV members’ position about participation in 2020 exhibitions. The Association of Italian manufacturers and suppliers of machinery, equipment and special products for glass processing demands, on behalf of the whole Italian glass industry, decided to cancel all the events scheduled in 2020, since exhibitors won’t have the same opportunity to participate as they have in past editions.
Member companies believe that “the emergency won’t be solved by the end of the year” and for this reason it is “impossible having successful shows.” GIMAV officials underline that people’s safety must come first in a high-level risk situation of infection. Ninety-eight percent of the companies involved―more than the 85 percent of the members―agreed with the statement.
In addition to this decision, together with other companies which spontaneously subscribed the statement, GIMAV declared that Italian exhibitors won’t participate in any event before the end of 2020, whether any scheduled show is canceled or not.
Lastly, the statement asks organizers to consider avoiding postponponements of events, given the already-crowded nature of the 2021 exhibitions calendar.
GIMAV officials have received positive feedback from the statement: “From this newfound unity, we can and should lay the foundation for the main work we are called to do. The whole economy, not only the glass sector, has to find the key to face the new challenges that the pandemic creates. Today I have a new belief: in GIMAV, we can and we will do it together” says Gusti.
GIMAV, which provided the full stated position with member companies that signed, aims to spread this position to all the players involved in the industry and to give it the greatest prominence. This will avoid that the Italian companies participate in events with an extremely high level of risk, and uncertain success, according to the statement.
