Italian Exhibition Group (IEG) will organize the first international conference, “The Global Outlook 2026 – Global Jewelry Markets and Practical Tools for Business Growth”, during Oroarezzo 2026 at Arezzo Fiere e Congressi in Italy. The event will take place on May 11 alongside the jewellery manufacturing trade show scheduled from May 9–12.
The conference is being organized in collaboration with Confindustria Federorafi, AFEMO, the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI) and the Italian Trade Agency (ITA). Discussions will focus on export diversification, evolving global demand and trade opportunities across India, Africa, Mercosur, the United States and Canada.
According to IEG, the conference aims to provide jewellery companies with practical tools to navigate uncertainty in international markets. Topics will include the implications of the European Union’s trade agreements with India and Mercosur, trade routes involving France and Switzerland, and supply chain developments between the United States and Canada.
Matteo Farsura, head of IEG’s jewellery trade shows, said the event is intended to strengthen collaboration between companies, associations and institutions to support export diversification strategies. Maria Cristina Squarcialupi, president of Confindustria Federorafi, noted that Italian jewellery exports to Turkey, the UAE and the U.S. — which together account for more than 40% of total exports — are facing challenges linked to high precious metal prices and market instability.
Giordana Giordini, president of Confindustria Federorafi South Tuscany, said Arezzo remains particularly exposed to volatility in Gulf States, Turkey and the U.S., making market diversification increasingly important. AFEMO president Massimo Poliero stated that jewellery businesses will need to anticipate market changes rather than simply pursue existing opportunities.
Roberto Corciulo, founder and CEO of IC&Partners, said global gold imports exceeded €800 billion in 2025, reflecting rising demand for gold as a safe-haven asset amid geopolitical uncertainty. He added that the EU-India agreement signed on January 27, 2026, could remove or reduce tariffs on 96.6% of European exports to India, generating estimated annual savings of €4 billion.
The conference will also examine opportunities in Africa. Patrizia Mauro, general manager of Confindustria Assafrica & the Mediterranean, highlighted growing demand for jewellery across South Africa, Nigeria and North Africa, driven by expanding middle-class consumption and long-term economic growth.
Fabio Colombo of SACE said Italian jewellery companies will require stronger financial and insurance support mechanisms to manage geopolitical risks and expand into emerging export markets.
