SILK AVENUE
A MajorAudiovisual Matchmaking Event co-financed by the Asia-Invest Programme of the European Commission

Silk Avenue was held in Rome, Italy on October 13-14, 2005.
S Silk Avenue is designed to increase economic cooperation and transnational business agreements between European and Southeast Asian Audiovisual SMEs that are looking to expand in the growing EU/Asian AV markets.
Silk Avenue includes a major matchmaking event that brought together over 180 enterprises from Europe (Italy, Spain, Germany and England) and Asia (India, China, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Thailand and the Philippines) to discuss the development of new business projects.
Silk Avenue, coordinated by Filas and co-financed by the European Commission through the Asia-Invest Programme, has been studied to provide mutual benefits to the profitability of Asian and European Audiovisual SMEs.
Unlike other purely commercial events, Silk Avenue is an EU-sponsored event and free of charge for all participants.


The European Audiovisual industry is a strategic sector

    > The European Union's audiovisual market is the largest in the world.

    > The value of the European AV market is estimated at ca. 99 billion euros.

    > The European AV market is expected to grow by about 70% over the next decade.

    > The backbone of the European industry is formed by thousands of SMEs.


This makes it a perfect partner for the rapidly expanding markets of Southeast Asia

    > Southeast Asian AV companies provide advanced technology and low-cost services.

    > India's Bollywood will soon overtake Hollywood in market figures.

    > China is the fastest growing market in the world.

Insofar as the Silk Avenue Event is concerned, the AV Sector is understood to include the film, broadcasting (TV and radio), video and multimedia markets. Particular attention will be given to film production and distribution. The focus of the event will be on the revolution of the AV sector caused by the impact of the digital technologies.

The expected strategic objectives of Silk Avenue are to:

    > Promote the diffusion of information and tools supporting economic cooperation in the AV sector;

    > Increase reciprocal knowledge in the European and Asian audiovisual markets;

    > Create strategic alliances and business opportunities for all actors in the AV sector;

    > Brand Silk Avenue and transform it into an annual event.

Silk Avenue is hosted in Rome, a global arts centre that enjoys this opportunity to act as a bridge between culture and technology.
Filas, the Financial Development Agency of the Regione Lazio, fosters and finances the development of innovative business practices in Lazio region enterprises.
The Asia-Invest Programme is a European Union initiative that aims to promote and support business co-operation between the EU and Asia, for increased trade and investment flows between the two regions.