Gimav's Calendar for 2013 Kicks Off

A very busy schedule that includes the most important venues around the world and ending with the most eagerly-awaited appointment of all, Vitrum

2013.

At the end of an ever so difficult 2012 with its weak short-lived rebounds followed by slumps, the first thing that comes to mind is to immediately start thinking about next year. This means putting aside any disappointments or poor results and pulling up sleeves to work on the up-and-coming commitments with a new drive given the positive reports that emerged towards the end of the year.This is what Gimav is doing of course, with the same enthusiasm as always: and here is the calendar for 2013, with all the scheduled international appointments and organizing work in full swing for the most important, as well as the last, event of the year. Vitrum 2013.

The year will start with Glaspex India 2013 in Mumbai, slated for 20- 22 March. This is the third session of the exhibition and Gimav will be attending with a group of companies representing the flat and hollow sectors. It will be an important opportunity to gain an insight into the country that has been posting very interesting growth rates over recent years. In 2012 it experienced a sharp slowdown and this is expected to be +4.9%, the lowest increase in the past 10 years. A low figure for a poor country that needs to have higher growth rates for long-lasting benefits: however leading economists are expecting a turnaround in the fiscal year that will end in 2014, reaching +6.5%. Still a long way from the excellent 8% but a positive trend all the same.

In May it will be the turn of China Glass which is being hosted in Beijing on 24-27. The Chinese economy also slowed down significantly, falling constantly after performing well in the first part of 2010. In this case however, the need for tighter financial policy by the Chinese authorities to fight inflation had a major impact, added to which were typical and largely expected events, such as the fact that the population has not grown as dramatically over the past decade, and rising labor costs basically due to a growing demand for environmental protection and the safeguarding of fundamental civil rights. Yet China, the world’s second major economic locomotive after the United States,  remains one of the main centers of attraction for industrial machinery, especially for Italian glass processing machinery: Italian companies from both the flat and hollow glass sectors will be at China Glass.

Mir Stekla in Moscow on 10-14 June, will provide an opportunity to confirm the pickup in building activity in 2012, which accounted for the very interesting results achieved by Italian companies that are now hoping this trend will become consolidated. June is traditionally the month when construction work begins again after the long winter break, and the event will therefore be a very reliable indicator for making seasonal forecasts.

Gulf Glass 2013 in Dubai on 3-5 September will provide a real indication of the outcome of a recent visit by the Italian Prime Minister, that is, that the United Arab Emirates are to all effects a solid commercial hub for glass companies, especially from Italy. Gimav companies will be there with the best offerings in both sectors.

The USA seems very promising, despite a great deal of talk about its looming “fiscal cliff”: in all likelihood this will be averted once a final agreement on the budget is reached; in any case the pickup in the building and construction industry is bound to make Glass Build America in Atlanta on 10- 12 September a very busy appointment. Gimav will be there with leading flat glass companies.

Last on the agenda is the most important and hyped event of the year, Vitrum 2013. It’s all taking shape, but this is something else. There’ll be a lot of surprises and we’ll be reporting on this in the other News Online articles.