GIMAV will take the spotlight at Russia’s Mir Stekla 2018

This year’s Mir Stekla will highlight GIMAV on 28^th-31^st May 2018 at Expocentre in Moscow, Russia.

The 20^th Russian glass exhibition will focus on GIMAV, the association of Italian manufacturers and suppliers of machinery, equipment and special products for glass processing.

The delegation will display Italy’s best technologies, machinery, systems and accessories for flat and hollow glass.

Laura Biason, GIMAV’s Director, said: “Russia’s economy has had its ups and downs. The drop in oil prices, with the ensuring devaluation of the rouble and geopolitical tensions have weighed heavily on its economy.

“But now, after almost two consecutive years of recession, it seems the country is beginning to recover. And the effects of this growth are being felt in our industry as well.

“In a single year, the Russian market has climbed from 20^th to 10^th position in the ranking of our top destination countries, and now stands at 2.52%, double its share in 2015.”

The 140m² exhibition will showcase ten Italian brands under the GIMAV banner with the support of the Italian Trade Agency (ITA).

Mrs Biason said: “For hollow glass in particular – Russia, as an importer of Italian machinery, ranks 9^th globally: a significant rise, especially considering the steep contraction in 2015, when the country dropped from 2^nd to 15^th place.”

For GIMAV member companies, the rise of Russia’s market in the ranking of major foreign customers is reflected in both the flat glass (now in 27^th position, compared to 38^th in previous surveys) and hollow glass sectors.

However, a survey by GIMAV Study Center in 2017 showed that the Russian market is still rather critical in terms of expected imports.

At its last 11,500m² exhibition, Mir Stekla attracted nearly 200 companies from 20 countries around the world and about 8,000 visitors.