Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Edmondo Cirielli, travelled to Paris on an institutional mission for meetings with the International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies (CIHEAM) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
At CIHEAM, the Deputy Minister met with Secretary-General Teodoro Miano to review opportunities for strengthened cooperation with Italy, including through the Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Bari, which forms part of the Centre’s operational network and has long been a consolidated partner of Italian Development Cooperation. CIHEAM has become a key player not only in the field of development cooperation but also in scientific research and advanced training in the agricultural, food and environmental sectors.
The Deputy Minister then met with OECD Deputy Secretary-General Fabrizia Lapecorella for an in-depth discussion on Italy’s role in the area of training, supported by the OECD’s Centres of Excellence hosted in Italy: the Centre on Public Governance in Caserta, the Trento Centre for Local Development, and the International Academy for Tax Crime Investigation in Ostia.
At the conclusion of his mission, Deputy Minister Cirielli met leading representatives of the Italian business community and members of the Italian community living in Paris during the closing event in France of the 10th Week of Italian Cuisine in the World, held at the Italian Embassy and organised in cooperation with the Paris Office of the Italian Trade Agency (ITA), INALPI, and Michelin-starred Chef Gian Piero Vivalda of the “Antica Corona Reale” in Cervere (CN). In his opening remarks, the Deputy Minister highlighted the achievements of the initiative promoted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, aimed at supporting the agri-food sector, which accounts for 10% of Italy’s total exports to France, with over EUR 6.5 billion recorded in 2024.
