A technical panel on citrus fruit exports to China met today at the Farnesina. The meeting was called by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Luigi Di Maio, and was attended by representatives of MiPAAF, MiSE, ICE, (Italian Trade Agency), the Sicily Region, numerous companies authorised to export citrus fruit to China, alongside with organisations of the industry. Also a delegation of parliament members of the Senate and Chamber of Deputies Commissions and of the Assembly of the Sicily Region participated in the meeting. The Embassy and the ICE (Italian Trade Agency) office in Beijing participated via a conference call.
The meeting is part of the framework action supporting internationalisation of enterprises, following the recent reform which has moved to the Farnesina the foreign trade competencies. Participants linked in a networking systems have shared a strategy promoting Sicilian blood oranges in China. Italy, in fact, signed in the past month of January a Memorandum of Understanding with the People’s Republic of China authorising exports of these citrus fruits.
The strategy discussed includes a series of actions to be implemented in Italy and in China by the organisation of a mission of Chinese importers and influencers in Sicily during the collection of oranges. Subsequently, an event, organised by the Italian Embassy in conjunction with the ICE offices in Beijing, will take place in the Chinese city to present the products to the press, marking the launching of the communication campaign which envisages the most innovative digital marketing techniques via the capillary Chinese social media. The aim is to inform the broad public of the excellence of the Italian citrus production and enhance the territories of origin.
All participants networked to detect the most appropriate period for the launching of the product on the Chinese market and expressed a shared appreciation for the initiative. “These networking efforts can make the difference,”said Federica Argentati, President of the production district of Sicilian citrus fruits.
On a longer term basis, the participating Administrations reiterated their committment to increase the number of species of exportable citrus fruits.
