THE XIVth edition of the Knife Show, Ibercutopened its doors this Saturday at the Casino Primitivo in Albacete, and will remain open until Sunday October 6, presenting the latest developments and proposals of the sector through 50 exhibitors.
The start of the international event took place in the presence of the president of the Association of Cutlery and Related Products (Aprecu), organizer of the event, María Pilar Jiménezaccompanied by the deputy coordinator of the social sector of the Provincial Delegation of Albacete, José González; the delegate of the Council of Economy, Business and Employment of the Council, Nicolás Merino, and the councilors of Marca Albacete and Economic Promotion, Rosa González de la Aleja and Lucrecia Rodríguez de Vera, among other institutional authorities, as l ‘Aprecu reported in a press release.
The president of Aprecu expressed her commitment to “promote knife craftsmanship to the public, raise awareness, reinforce the positive image of cutlery and promote the benefits of the knife.” “A tool that has been with us for six centuries and on which 1,500 families live in the province of Albacete alone.“, he added.
Jiménez stressed that the sector “is not left behind and, by mixing tradition and innovation, we want to move forward in step with the new times and the possibilities that new technologies offer us.”
In this sense, he said that Aprecu is immersed in a project focused on Blockchain technology to certify the authenticity of the sector’s products manufactured in Albacete, and that the association is growing thanks to the support of the Government of Castile-La Mancha.
One more step that, with the Protected Geographical Indication, will allow the sector to be stronger and move forward with greater guarantees, something Aprecu works for every day.
For his part, José González declared that “as a native of Albacete and as a representative of the provincial government team, it is an honor to witness and support, for another year, what is surely one of the most obvious examples of what is truly intentional.” which is our cutlery industry.
According to González, the fair “strengthens Albacete’s position in the world” and highlighted the presence of other cities with an important cutlery sector, such as Solingen in Germany, Thiers in France or Maniago in Italy.
The MP reiterated that, since Albacete Provincial Councilthe commitment to the sector is firm and determined, not only through direct support for Ibercut, but also through itinerant initiatives that bring the knife tradition closer to the villages of the province.
“Aprecu has our full support,” he said, highlighting the annual agreement of 40,000 euros aimed at promoting the sector’s activities. Likewise, and in the presence of Mayor Cuchillero of 2024, chef Quique Cerro, highlighted the collaboration with the Association of Chefs of Castilla-La Mancha, also present in the cooking show scheduled in Ibercut, knowing that “you can find the best gastronomy and the best knives”, he noted.
To close his speech, José González sent a message of gratitude to the master craftsmen, recognizing their ability to preserve and modernize this craft with work that is a source of inspiration in a sector that, he said, “is a key example of adapting to the times”, because one can adapt to the times with a spirit of survival, but Albacete cutlery has adapted to the times with a desire for improvement and growth that manifest in events like this fair.
In the same vein, González de la Aleja emphasized that “the success of this fair, which can be visited for free during the weekend at the Casino Primitivo, comes from the fact that it is carried out by professionals and for professionals”.
However, the councilor recalled that “in addition to the professional aspect, there are also parallel activities intended for the general public, such as a cocking show with a Michelin-starred chef, a ham and cheese cutting demonstration, a demonstration and a stone sharpening course. water, and the now traditional “Assemble your own knife” workshop.
Likewise, he said that Ibercut is “a magnificent showcase of the best cutlery made in Albacete for everyone, and a benchmark event for the sector, as it continues to grow both in exhibitors and in unique experiences for visitors.” This also encouraged exhibitors from outside to visit and experience the city’s many attractions.
The councilor stressed that “cutlery is a very appreciated sector in Albacete, the capital of cutlery, it is a reality that generates social unanimity. The knife represents us all historically and culturally, as the Albacete Cutlery Museum who has just turned twenty. But in addition, cutlery has an economic, industrial and economic development component which brings a lot to the city and the province.
After the fair opened, participants toured the exhibition and toured some of the activities, such as the Assemble Your Own Knife workshop.
