The world has changed over the last 20 years. In May, 1993, the European producers exhibiting at Proposte were undisputed leaders in a market that had yet to ‘go global.’ There was no World Trade Organization (WTO); the Maastricht Treaty that would lead to the birth of the Euro was not yet in effect; China was changing its Constitution to promote private economy; and CERN was making the technology behind the World Wide Web public: now anyone could publish a website.

 In this new world-better according to some; worse according to others-in order to thrive alongside other countries who are now quite rightly jumping at the opportunity to claim their slice of economic wellbeing, Europe has  to become an advocate for a new kind of well being: ethical and environmentally friendly.

We covered this issue at our recent conference in Milan on the 15th of February. Faced with the most serious economic crisis of modern times, Europe’s salvation lies in making ethics the focus of business. The most enlightened industry-generally the industry that exhibits at Proposte-has accepted to play this role, whose starting point is respect for People and the Environment.

So this is why Proposte, after all these years of research, creativity and innovation, has decided to broaden its objectives by shifting its focus to include sustainability, through product quality and quality of life.

 This letter was reprinted from an invitation to the 20th Anniversary of Proposte held May 8-10, 2012 with the permission of Mr. Mosiello, the director, pictured here.