The Vice Prime Minister and Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, traveled last Sunday (6) for a mission in Argentina and Brazil, where he will participate in meetings with institutional authorities from both countries, local and Italian business representatives and members of the Italian community.
The information was released by Farnesina in a statement.
“Latin America is a priority region for Italian foreign policy: close in terms of culture and values, full of opportunities for our companies. We want to be the voice of this region in Europe,” declared the Italian foreign minister.
According to Tajani, “Argentina and Brazil, in particular, are two key countries, also due to the presence of large and deep-rooted communities of Italians and descendants of Italians.”
“With this mission we intend to strengthen bilateral cooperation at all levels, starting with the economic partnership,” added the vice-premier.
In Buenos Aires, Tajani will meet with the President of Argentina, Javier Milei, which will also be attended by Prime Minister Guillermo Francos, the Minister of Justice, Mariano Cúneo Libarona, and the Secretary of State for Tourism, Environment and Sports, Daniel Scioli.
During the mission, the minister will co-chair a roundtable of Italian and Argentine businessmen, focusing on strengthening investment in the country and growing trade. On October 7, Tajani will also participate in the Argentine capital in the commemorations organized by local Jewish associations in honor of the October 7, 2023 massacre in Israel.
“We must work to strengthen our ties, also thanks to the renewed impetus that the Argentine government wants to give to the country’s economy and competitiveness,” explained the Italian minister.
According to the head of Italian diplomacy, “the Italian business community is one of the most important in Argentina”, given that “more than 300 companies employ around 16,5 workers, with a turnover of around 2,64 billion euros in the following sectors: automobiles, energy, infrastructure, agri-food and insurance.
For Tajani, “it is a sign of uninterrupted cooperation that we intend to strengthen and deepen today, while at the same time monitoring the process of stabilizing the country’s macroeconomic and financial framework.”
In addition, he will also open the proceedings of a meeting with all Italian ambassadors, the directors of the offices of the Institute for Foreign Trade (ICE) and the directors of the Italian Cultural Institutes in Latin America.
As part of the “sports diplomacy” action, the Minister of Foreign Affairs will sign a declaration of intent for bilateral collaboration in the field of sports diplomacy.
Subsequently, the Italian Language Week in the World will be inaugurated by the Italian school “Cristoforo Colombo”, in the presence of students and teachers from all the recognized Italian schools in Buenos Aires.
In São Paulo, Tajani will meet with the Minister of the Civil House, Rui Costa dos Santos, and with the Governor of São Paulo, Tarcísio de Freitas. He will also open the proceedings of the Italy-Brazil business forum, participate in the inauguration of the new Simest office and meet the Italian community and the business community.
“This trip to São Paulo represents, above all, an opportunity to consolidate political and economic-commercial relations with a partner of strategic importance,” he declared.
Tajani further emphasized that “2024 marks a crucial year for bilateral relations, not only due to the numerous mutual institutional visits and the respective presidencies of the G7 and G20, but also in light of the 150 years of Italian immigration in Brazil”.
The visit of the Italian Deputy Prime Minister to Brazil follows that of the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, the first by an Italian head of state in 24 years, and precedes the participation of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in the next G20 Summit, in Rio, which will be held in November. (HANDLE)
