The annual coordination meetings on consular matters and the promotion of Sistema Italia (Italy’s institutional network) in the United States, organized by the Embassy of Italy in Washington, concluded yesterday.
“I was particularly pleased to bring together all components of our network to take stock of the initiatives currently underway and to reflect together on how to continue promoting Italy in the United States in key areas such as the economic, commercial, and scientific sectors, as well as the cultural one,” commented the Ambassador of Italy to the United States, Marco Peronaci. “This also gave me the opportunity to meet and speak with colleagues I had not yet seen since the beginning of my term last month, but whom I am committed to visiting soon in their respective jurisdictions,” he added.
Recalling the priority placed on “growth diplomacy” by Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hon. Antonio Tajani, Ambassador Peronaci emphasized the importance of the entire institutional network’s providing the strongest possible support to Italian businesses and the Italian productive sector in a key market such as the United States. This also follows the directives set out in the Joint Leaders’ Statement signed last April by Prime Minister Meloni and President Trump.
During the meetings, participants agreed to work toward ever greater synergies and collaboration among the various Sistema Italia sectors, and also addressed the growing challenges related to strictly consular activities, services, and assistance to Italian citizens.
The meetings began on Saturday, October 18th, with the plenary consular coordination session attended by Members of the Italian Parliament elected abroad, CGIE Councilors and Comites Presidents, as well as Consuls General and, via videolink from Rome, the Director General for Italian Citizens Abroad and Migration Policies at the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Luigi Maria Vignali. They then continued on Monday and Tuesday, with remote participation by the Director General for Country Promotion at the Ministry, Mauro Battocchi; the President of the Italian Trade Agency, Matteo Zoppas; the Trade Agency Director, Lorenzo Galanti; and the Legal Advisor to Minister Tajani for Economic and Development Diplomacy, Marco Rago.
In addition to Embassy officials and staff, all components of Italy’s institutional network in the United States took part: Consuls General, Directors of Italian Trade Agency Offices, Directors of Italian Cultural Institutes, representatives of the Bank of Italy, Scientific Attachés at the Consulates, and the Director of Innov.it.
