The decree-law approved today by the Council of Ministers on the reorganization of the competences of some Ministries, transfers to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation the power to define the commercial and promotional strategies and policies with foreign countries and the development of the internationalization of Italy’s cultural and economic system. Besides other things, the reorganization envisages that the Farnesina is to exercise direct oversight over the ICE Agency, in agreement with the Ministry of Economic Development.
Thanks to the new institutional arrangements, economic diplomacy will increasingly be at the heart of our foreign policy and of Italy’s presence abroad. The internationalization of companies and the promotion of Italian brands are thus consolidated as a strategic objective pursued by the Farnesina and by the Italian diplomatic-consular network, which is increasingly at the service of businesses for the growth of our Country.
This reform has undeniable advantages: it provides a unified strategic vision in supporting the internationalization of the Italian production system and in defining at national level the commercial policy strategies, hence ensuring better protection of national interests in foreign markets.
Entrepreneurs and associations will have a single institutional contact for internationalization and trade policy issues. In fact, by rationalizing governance, a single platform is made available for internationalization, with greater integration between the 128 Embassies plus 80 Consulates and the 78 Offices of the ICE Agency abroad. An entire network is present throughout the world and is at the service of businesses to facilitate the promotion of Italian products and protect our excellence and commercial penetration.