EDITORIAL
The Indian Embassy, Rome, in association with the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) hosted “India-Italy: Economic horizons and opportunities” as a presentation of the ICC’s new representation to Italy. In November 2023, the ICC announced its first overseas presence in 98 years appointing Vas Shenoy as its chief representative in Italy.
The event was attended by members of the India-Italy Parliamentary friendship group, Italian parliamentarians, members of the business community and civil society. Among companies represented included Ignazio Messina & C Shipping, Neos airlines, CDP, Leonardo, Pininfarina among others, according to a media release.
“India and Italy have made great strides since the pandemic,” said the Indian Ambassador to Italy Neena Malhotra.
“Apart from a huge increase in bilateral trade, 2023 saw two visits of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to India and three ministerial visits to Italy by senior Indian ministers, S. Jaishankar, Minister of External Affairs, Rajnath Singh, Minister of Defence and Piyush Goyal, Minister of Commerce and Industry underlining the importance of this relationship for both countries,” Neena stated.
In his message from Davos, ICC president Ameya Prabhu said, “The India-Italy trade relationship is over 2000 years old. ICC would like to contribute to the vision of Prime Ministers Meloni and Modi to develop this strategic partnership.”
Senator Terzi di Sant’Agata, president of the India-Italy parliamentary friendship group stated, “As Prime Minister Meloni stated in her address at Raisina dialogues Lighthouses do not obscure each other, but they can shine together and help all of us to navigate in these troubled waters. In these troubled times where the Bab al Mandab and the Red Sea are dragged into a confrontation that blocks Europe’s access to India, India and Italy are like lighthouses which try and guide ships to friendly harbours.”
Vas Shenoy remarked, “India and Italy are two cultural superpowers. In an age of hashtags the tag Made in Italy is a guarantee of quality and excellence, the tag Made in India is an intrinsic part of India’s soul, connected closely with its independence as well as its self-reliant future. My role, as I see it, is to find a bridge to unite these two hashtags.”
Speakers included Stefano Messina, president of the Italian Association of Ship owners and operators and executive vice president of Messina Shipping. Messina is the second generation that continues investing in India because his family has believed in the potential of the country. Even in these challenging times for shipping, where global shipping routes are blocked by terrorism and piracy, Messina continues to connect India and Italy and strongly believes in the potential of the relationship.
Representing Pininfarina, Italy’s legendary design company, Giupseppe Bonollo, senior vice president of Sales and Marketing discussed the growing importance of India in the global scenario. The Indian Mahindra Group is Pininfarina’s majority shareholder and it is a new Indo-Italian phase in the company’s 95 year history.
The Italian presence for the Indian Chamber of Commerce opens a new phase in the bilateral commercial relationships between the two countries. Also present were representatives from Union Camere, the national association of chambers of commerce of Italy as well as representatives of Chambers of Commerce of Rome, Florence and other provincial bodies.
