In welcoming you to this new edition, I would first of all like to thank everyone who trusted in the last edition, allowing us to make the 2021 edition a success by investing resources and energy to transform the unexpected into opportunity. After the dramatic spread of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, we were faced with an entirely unpredictable and unprecedented scenario.

Building on that success, to expand VITRUM 2023's exhibitor base, we have decided to invest in established initiatives with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and ITA Agency.

Greater involvement of Industry Opinion Makers was one of the requirements for expanding the exhibitor category, while maintaining high quality standards. In addition, this edition of VITRUM will feature a series of collateral events dedicated to glass and sustainability, taking place in the most characteristic and modern venues of Milan. These events are part of the Milan Glass Week, the event that shines a spotlight on "glass" beyond the fair itself. Two important additions include:

• VITRUM Boulevard, spanning the entire exhibition area, hosts the international glass community. It's a tribute to the organizations that make VITRUM their home, fueling the engine of international glass industry growth through continuous discussions, debates, and the sharing of ideas and experiences.

• VITRUM Arena, the new multifunctional space enriching VITRUM 2023, where master glassmakers, artists, architects, and designers bring their personal interpretations of glass to life. It's a captivating and unprecedented journey through the beauty and aesthetics of glass, often stemming from artistic talent and creative brilliance, or meticulous technological expertise.

It's where VITRUM's technology meets the sophistication of Milan Glass Week, forming a blend that will pique your curiosity at every step.

All of which points to the desire, despite the unfavorable conditions left in the wake of the post-pandemic era, to impart a powerful change-of-pace to our Show. A tangible example of this is VITRUM Life, the virtual community of the event, which has grown significantly in the past two years. Today, it offers the entire VITRUM world at a click's reach: from the online magazine to the Marketplace featuring exhibitors' products on the Alibaba platform, to the online catalog of the VITRUM Community. Not to mention the Web-TV dedicated to the fair and Glass Week, in-depth coverage of the Year of Glass 2022, and the recent VITRUM International format that coordinates VITRUM Community's participation in major international events, promoting it on custom platforms and social media in target countries. Sounds interesting? Just outside Pavilion 7, we've set up an infopoint to experience the added value of being part of our community firsthand.

the general through Glass Week, VITRUM continues to strive as the International Fair for the entire Glass Industry, in a context where organizers, exhibitors, and visitors all need to find a new way of doing exhibitions. Only time will tell whether those who chose to follow us or those who preferred other paths were right.

Renewing my warm welcome to VITRUM 2023, I take this opportunity to thank you for having once again believed in us and invite you all to join us on Friday, September 8th, at 15.00:10 PM at the Conferences Room of VITRUM Arena (LEM EXNUMX) for the closing conference of the XNUMXrd edition of VITRUM. We'll discuss the upcoming years' events, shared projects, and new opportunities.