Also non-EU foreign buyers with vaccines not recognised in Italy can access fairs, restaurants, hotels and shops with swabs. Foreign buyers of the EU will only need the Enhanced Green Pass, taking a rapid swab test (valid for 48 hours) or molecular test (validity 72 hours) – if over six months have passed since the completion of the vaccination cycle or healing.
Non-EU buyers who have been vaccinated with an unauthorised vaccine or a vaccine not recognised as equivalent in Italy will only be required to take a swab test to access fairs, restaurants, hotels and shops.
The whole sector appreciated the decision, starting with Siro Badon, president of Assocalzaturifici: “A regulatory gap was cleverly overcome which risked cutting out many buyers and visitors, particularly from Russia, China, Northern Europe, the Middle East and strategic emerging markets for the footwear and Made in Italy supply chain in general. Now companies will be able to approach the fair with greater conviction in order not to lose trading opportunities.
An agenda, which obtained a favourable opinion from the Italian government and a unanimous vote by the Chamber of Deputies, which emerged thanks to the impetus of the Honorable Members Lucentini and Marchetti of the Lega party, together with members of the Lega of the Healthcare Commission.

Mr Mauro Lucentini, how do you react to the provision of the Council of Ministers?
“It is a victory of common sense that we proudly claim and that was agreed with Undersecretary Costa during the meeting following the approval of our agenda 88 by the Parliament.
And we are very happy that the Government has gone beyond our requests, because this provision will be a healthy breath of fresh air for many companies”.

Why is this an important achievement?
“Because it solves the problem and puts an end to restrictions that have had too strong repercussions on the Italian GDP and that of the Marche region, in particular given the importance of the Russian market for the manufacturing sectors of Made in Italy. We remind you that the presence of Russian buyers in Italy is very important for the fashion sector; a sector that is worth over 80 billion euro and ensures 12.5% of employment in the manufacturing industry. In the Marche region alone, the sector is worth 5 billion in turnover (according to 2018 data), equal to 7.2% of the regional total and employs about 40,000 people (2021).

Where did your interest come from?
“Supporting businesses and promoting employment is fundamental and it would have been a contradiction to keep aid alive without allowing some of the most important customers to touch our companies’ proposals first-hand. Together with Gino Sabatini, president of the Chamber of Commerce of the Marche region, we further and in detail explained undersecretary Costa the need for a timely intervention that companies and trade associations of the Marche region had requested for the release of the Russian buyers’ participation in our fairs”.