The Asia, Oceania, and Antarctica region comprises 39 countries and is home to over half the world’s population. It accounts for approximately one-third of the world’s GDP. It is also a crucial hub for global trade and financial flows. Italy is present there with its diplomatic and consular network, consisting of 17 Embassies, 15 Consulates, and an Office for Economic, Commercial, and Cultural Promotion.
The Foreign Ministry is committed to strengthening bilateral relations with the region’s countries across the board: intensifying political relations; supporting the Italian companies’ penetration into regional markets; and fostering economic partnerships, especially in sectors where Italy is at the forefront.
Furthermore, despite comprising extremely heterogeneous economies, Asia and Oceania count six G20 members (Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, and the Republic of Korea) and are increasingly important in global governance. In recent years, the region has also established many regional organizations of which Italy is a partner (ASEAN, IORA, International Solar Alliance), which are an important tool of our Asian strategy.
Besides strengthening bilateral relations and cooperation with regional organizations, Italy has long started activities in the pillars identified by the “EU Strategy for Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific,” which outlines the European Union’s approach in this region. The main policy lines of Italy’s action in the region are outlined in the document “The Italian Contribution to the European Strategy for the Indo-Pacific.”