“This is a significant result and a point of departure for future strategies”, was Minister Giulio Terzi’s comment on the new Italian Cultural Institute guildelines approved today at the foreign ministry by the National Commission for the Promotion of Italian Culture Abroad, within the general framework of the promotion of the country system. Culture, Terzi said, is the most “meaningful” projection of the Italian identity in the world, and a “strategic resource” for the nation’s economy. As emerged in yesterday’s meeting, cultural diplomacy is one of the most effective vehicles for Italy’s foreign policy. It was also underscored that the guidelines approved today, and to be implemented by the entire diplomatic network, effectively underpin the objective of enhancing the fundamental role of cultural diplomacy and the promotion of Italian excellence in technology and industry.
The principal criteria applied to outlining new strategies, the minister observed, include that of adapting the cultural institutes’ mission and activities in such as way as to enhance competitiveness while containing public spending, tapping into all the components of the country system so as to avoid the unnecessary fragmentation and waste of resources.
Today’s document places special importance on the dissemination of the Italian language around the world. The National Commission is a consultative body made up of representatives from all the ministries and bodies engaged in the promotion of Italian language and culture.
