The renewal plan for the exhibition district has been presented: infrastructure investment, energy sustainability and a stronger connection with the local area
The process initiated by the regional institutions, launched with the appointment of the new Board of Directors and the concurrent designation of Antonio Forini as the first chairman from the business community, has now reached a significant milestone. The convergence of objectives, combined with the considerable financial autonomy built up over twenty years of prudent management, provides the foundation for a proactive industrial plan focused on the development of activities, particularly trade fair activities, and on identifying new opportunities for economic and social growth.
A new chapter is therefore beginning for Umbria Fiere, which is launching a structured renewal process based on a clear strategic vision and a strong sense of public responsibility. The project, presented today, Monday 26 January 2026, in the Maschiella Room, in the presence of institutional authorities and the founding shareholders of Umbriafiere S.p.A., aims to restore the regional exhibition district to a central and strategic role in the economic growth of the entire Umbrian system.
As Massimiliano Presciutti, President of the Province of Perugia, stated: “The Exhibition Centre in Bastia Umbra is a strategic infrastructure for the territorial balance of the Province of Perugia, capable of connecting different municipalities and strengthening the link between economic development and local identity. Events of national importance such as Agriumbria clearly demonstrate the value of this space as a qualified showcase for our production excellence.”
The evolution process presented today is driven by the opportunity offered by regional funds allocated to the redevelopment of the existing pavilions and is being developed through close collaboration with the Municipality of Bastia Umbra, the contracting authority for the works. This joint action reflects a shared commitment to enhancing an infrastructure considered fundamental for the local area.
During the meeting, Erigo Pecci, Mayor of Bastia Umbra, emphasized that the exhibition district represents “a true urban engine and a marker of identity not only for Bastia Umbra, but for the entire region.” Retracing the historical milestones from the modern fair of 1969 to the current Umbriafiere S.p.A., the Mayor underlined how collaboration between institutions and the local area has been, and continues to be, a decisive factor in the growth and competitiveness of the region’s economic and social fabric.
Umbriafiere S.p.A. has chosen to actively support the project by providing technical expertise, management experience and, substantially, its own financial resources, in order to ensure interventions that are fully aligned with the contemporary needs of the market. Among the most significant initiatives is a comprehensive infrastructure investment plan aimed at increasing the competitiveness, efficiency and sustainability of the exhibition district. The programme includes the fully self-financed construction of a new permanent pavilion, the installation of a 480 kW photovoltaic system, the inclusion of the system in a Renewable Energy Community for sharing surplus energy produced, the renewal of pavilion lighting and the replacement of the current heating system with heat pump technologies.
This integrated evolution looks to the future and responds to the needs of the economic and social context, as also reaffirmed by Giorgio Mencaroni, President of the Umbria Chamber of Commerce. “We are not here simply to manage what already exists, but to invest decisively in growth. The time has come to make a qualitative leap,” said Mencaroni, stressing that sustainability and energy saving represent a concrete operational commitment, not merely a communication exercise. From this perspective, the Energy Community becomes a strategic tool for strengthening the relationship between Umbria Fiere and the Municipality of Bastia Umbra, generating widespread benefits for the local area.
In line with these considerations, Professor Luca Ferrucci, Sole Director of Sviluppumbria S.p.A., also highlighted the value of the Renewable Energy Community as a driver of economic, social and institutional innovation. “The exhibition district,” Ferrucci stated, “has all the potential to evolve into a multifunctional platform capable of integrating trade fair, conference, cultural and service activities, expanding sources of profitability, reducing seasonal use and encouraging new forms of public-private collaboration. This is a path that can transform Umbria Fiere from a simple event venue into a central node of a dynamic and resilient territorial ecosystem.”
Completing this new phase of development is the design of a renewed visual identity, including a new logo and communication tools, conceived to clearly reaffirm the role of Umbria Fiere as an autonomous, cross-sector entity representing the entire regional economic and social fabric.
The overall ambition is to transform the exhibition centre into a genuine hub for businesses, institutions and citizens: a place capable of attracting new events, strengthening existing ones, generating qualified relationships and offering advanced services, while making a stable and shared contribution to the growth of the entire regional system.
“This new journey,” says Antonio Forini, Chairman of Umbriafiere S.p.A. since May 2025, “is built on the solid foundations of the virtuous management of previous years. We have inherited a healthy company with its accounts in order. Thanks to this legacy, the result of prudence and foresight, we can now confidently begin a new phase of evolution, one that enhances the past and makes the future fertile.”
