Salone del Mobile.Milano and the Commission for Architecture and Design of the Ministry of Culture of Saudi Arabia signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in AlUla to promote design between Italy and Saudi Arabia on the occasion of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's official visit to Saudi Arabia.

“This Memorandum,” said Maria Porro, President of Salone del Mobile.Milano, "represents an extraordinary opportunity for Salone del Mobile.Milano to create a cultural and commercial bridge between Italy and Saudi Arabia. Through our collaboration, we aim to enhance Italian design and foster a fruitful exchange of skills and creativity with the Saudi context."

SaudiVision 2030 an idea of the future

The agreement, signed by Maria Porro and Sumayah Al-Solaiman, CEO Architecture and Design Commission, provides for the development of joint initiatives, including the organization of design and furniture exhibitions, to enhance the excellence of the creative and manufacturing sectors of both countries. The agreement aims to pave the way for ambitious projects that will strengthen the role of Italy and Saudi Arabia as global leaders in the design sector.

Maria Porro and Sumayah Al-Solaiman

As Maria Porro said at the signing, "SaudiVision 2030 is an idea of the future, in which design, in its many dimensions, is a prominent element. Because design is a builder of worlds. The Salone del Mobile.Milano, for over 60 years, has also played this strategic role. It connects Made in Italy with more than 150 countries. It is an accelerator for the competitiveness of companies, which have three key words as know-how: quality, innovation, sustainability."

He went on to emphasize the economic weight of the Italian design sector, of which the Salone is undoubtedly the spearhead. The supply chain consists of more than 66,500 companies, representing 14.8 percent of the national manufacturing sector and employing 300,000 people. With a turnover of 52.7 billion euros, 38 percent of which comes from exports (amounting to 20 billion), Made in Italy design confirms its success in the world.

A Furniture Fair in Saudi Arabia

The Memorandum aims to initiate a constructive dialogue for the organization of a Furniture Fair in Saudi Arabia with the goal of opening up not only new business opportunities but also cultural dialogue, putting companies, industry players, universities and young talent at the center.

"The Salone has always been able to combine business and vision, speak to the world, integrate past and future. - concluded the President of Salone del Mobile - It is a source of pride to imagine now that together we can design a page of the future of living, in its domestic dimension as well as in the large scale of urban design, thanks also to the support of the Government and the Ministry of Business and Made in Italy."