CFI, based in Milan, was established on January 1st, 1986, upon meeting resolution of November 20th, 1985, by which the original organization charter for the establishment of the Inter-Association Committee for Industry Trade Fairs, based in Rome and dated March 9th, 1982, was transformed.

The Extraordinary General Meeting of November 30, 1992, transformed the Association into the Agency of the Association of Italian Industries for Trade Fairs.

Following the reform of the charter of the Association of Italian Industries and following the entrustment of the Regional Government (upon amendment of the fifth Title of the Constitution) with the implementation of standards referred to trade fairs, CFI changed its Charter with the Extraordinary General Meeting dated November 30th, 2002, to adjust it to the new framework.

On one hand, the new charter points out both the political role played by CFI inside the enterprise internationalization process and, on the other hand, the very executive and operating role played for.