Southeast Asia
With over 680 million inhabitants and a cumulative GDP exceeding $4 trillion, the 11 member countries of ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) are home to 8.5% of the world’s population and collectively constitute the world’s fifth-largest economy (average growth rate over the last twenty years exceeding 5%). Italy has been an ASEAN development partner since September 2020.
Italy is present with a network of seven Embassies and one Consulate general, in addition to five Italian Trade Agency offices and two Cultural Institutes.
The most important partners include:
- Vietnam, one of our largest trading partners in Southeast Asia: our fourth-largest export market (in the region) and leading trading partner in ASEAN, a strategic partner of Italy since January 2013;
- Singapore, Southeast Asia’s third-largest economy, our top investment destination in ASEAN, and a global financial and innovation hub. Home to the ASEF Secretariat;
- Indonesia, Southeast Asia’s largest economy, the world’s fourth-largest country by population (the world’s largest Muslim population), and the only ASEAN member of the G20 and BRICS. Jakarta hosts the ASEAN Secretariat;
- Thailand, Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy, strongly oriented toward international trade and tourism thanks to its central geographic location and advanced industrial network, aims to become a high-income economy by 2037. Bangkok hosts the headquarters of UN-ESCAP;
- The Philippines, Southeast Asia’s fourth-largest economy, enjoys stable and well-established relations with the country, strengthened by the presence of a large Filipino community in Italy. Economic and trade relations are growing fast; it is home to the Asian Development Bank;
- Malaysia, Southeast Asia’s fifth-largest economy, a major producer of oil and natural gas and a global leader in Islamic finance, is focused on developing its semiconductor industry. Trade and investment are expanding quickly.
Relations with Laos, Cambodia, Brunei and East Timorr are more sporadic, but regular.
Relations with Myanmar are marked by the crisis caused by the coup d’état of February 1, 2021, which Italy was among the first country to condemn. Together with our EU, G7, and like-minded partners, we call for an end to violence; the release of all political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi and President U Myint; the resumption of inclusive political dialogue, and the voluntary and dignified return of the Rohingya and other minorities to their homeland once the political and security situation allows. We actively support the implementation of EU restrictive measures against those responsible for the violence and the UN and ASEAN mediation efforts, in line with the Five-Point Consensus..
OCEANIA
Italy has two Embassies, two Consulates General, three Consulates, an Italian Trade Agency (ICE) office, and two Cultural Institutes.
Australia, a G20 member, and New Zealand are strategic partners for Italy in the Indo-Pacific region. These dynamic players share fundamental values with Italy, such as the rule of law, freedom of navigation, the promotion of free trade, and sustainable development, which form the basis of a solid and ever-growing partnership.
Political, economic, and cultural relations with both countries are particularly close, thanks in part to the presence of many influential Italian communities living there, who contribute positively to the promotion of our culture, language, and companies.
PACIFIC
Italy is a Dialogue Partner of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) and proactively supports the 14 Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS) through multiple cooperation programs aimed at achieving the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Particular attention is paid to climate change adaptation and mitigation policies and interventions, a crucial issue for territories particularly vulnerable to sea level rise and extreme weather events.
ANCTARTICA
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation represents Italy within multilateral bodies related to Antarctica: the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings (ATCM) and the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR). The ATCM is the body entrusted with the joint governance of the continent by the States signatories to the 1959 Washington Antarctic Treaty. Its activities include environmental protection (establishment and extension of protected areas, creation of new scientific bases, etc.), scientific cooperation, and the legal regulation of these activities. Between June 23 and July 3, 2025, Italy hosted the 47th session of the ATCM in Milan.
The CCAMLR manages the conservation and rational use of marine resources, both through the establishment of fishing quotas for fish species and the creation of marine protected areas, where fishing and resource exploitation are regulated even more strictly. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation carries out these functions in close coordination with the institutions implementing the National Programme for Antarctic Research (PNRA), in particular the National Research Council and the ENEA Antarctic Unit.
Italy joined the Antarctic Treaty in 1981 and was granted Consultative Party status in 1987. Italy operates two scientific bases in Antarctica, one entirely owned by Italy (the “Mario Zucchelli” base), the other owned jointly with France (the “Concordia” base). Ownership of the bases is held by our Ministry of Universities and Research, which allocates approximately €25 million annually for both maintenance of the bases and funding of scientific research projects conducted in Antarctica.