Italy, the second largest exporter of wood work machineries in the world, is not only keen on investing more in India, but also further improving relations with its wood working industry, Association of Italian Woodworking Machinery Manufacturers Managing Director Dr Poula Zanibon informed. Talking to reporters on the sidelines of 'IndiaWood-2006,' Asia's biggest exposition on wood working industry, he said the wood working sector in India was growing, especially with regard to furniture, and Italy could extend better co-operation in this direction. He pointed out that the wood trade volume of Italy to India was growing every year and it had already touched 3.8 million Euros in the last eight months. Appreciating the Karnataka Government's new Industrial policy, Dr Zanibon said Italian traders would take advantage of it and forge close ties with the state. He said the Advanced Woodworking Training Center, a technical school on Woodworking technology, a first of its kind initiative in India, was launched by the Italian Trade Commission and the Association with the support of the Indian Government. More than 35 courses were being conducted at the Institute, an Indo-Italian Project, and already over 1,200 artisans had been given training in woodworking technology. Dr Zanibon said taking into consideration the success of the training school in the premises of the Institute of Wood Science and Technology in the city, the Association planned to open more such institutes in North India. He announced that the Association would be organising the Xylexpo-May 2006, the world's largest wood machinery fair held in even years, at Milan. Over 90,000 business visitors were expected to visit the mega event. He said Xylexpo, the 20th edition of the International exhibition of woodworking technology, was not only an important stage in the history of a show that had always been a unique reference, but also a first step towards the redefinition of the exhibition as a business event able to meet the changing needs of exhibitors and visitors. In the last edition, over 1,200 exhibitors and 87,000 business visitors had participated in the event.