Chongqing—On April 24, the first edition of Made in Italy Day was held at the Red Star Macalline Global Furnishing Mall of Chongqing. The theme was "Made in Italy 2.0: Craftsmanship, Design, Sustainability," and it focused on one of the most strategic fields for the Italian industry: interior design.

This new initiative was recently established by the Italian government to promote, in Italy and all over the world, the excellence of Made in Italy in a broad spectrum of sectors, including food, fashion, furniture, automotive, engineering, research, and tourism.

In his welcome speech, Consul General of Italy in Chongqing Fabio Schina emphasized that design is the most complete expression of Italian expertise, combining beauty and functionality, innovation, and tradition. In particular, the Italian wooden furniture supply chain, with 68,000 companies, 298,000 employees, a turnover of 56.5 billion euros, and exports of 17.5 billion euros, is statistically one of the largest in Europe.

"Southwest China is one of the most attractive markets for Italian companies and brands," said Fabio Schina.

He also highlighted the necessity to strengthen dialogue and exchanges between Chinese and Italian experts in key areas such as design and sustainable environmental protection.

Additionally, Fabio Schina mentioned the recent Milan International Furniture Exhibition. This event has become a global benchmark in the furniture and design sector, attracting hundreds of thousands of professionals, practitioners, and enthusiasts worldwide to Milan annually.

Following the welcome speech was a keynote speech from the main guest, Mario Ferrarello, an Italian architect and interior designer, the Design Manager of the prestigious brand Wagas Group, who has extensive working experience with China, having collaborated with the University of Nottingham Ningbo China and Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, as well as with local developers.

Ferrarello reviewed the main stages in the evolution of Italian design, emphasizing its ability to continue innovating and attracting enthusiasts from all over the world in his speech.

He also highlighted his experiences in China, particularly the relationship between client and designer in selecting furniture for new apartments and villas. Besides, some important projects and case studies are analyzed.

The second part of the event featured a roundtable session in which Fabio Schina discussed topics with industry experts and operators, including the relationship between design and sustainability, the changing tastes of the Chinese consumer, the peculiarities of the Southwest Chinese market, and the advantages of Italian products.

The event was organized by the Consulate General of Italy in Chongqing, the Italian Chamber of Commerce in China, and the Red Star Macalline Global Furnishing Mall.

(Han Bing, as an intern, also contributed to the report)