Today, the Foreign Minister, Luigi Di Maio, and President of Emilia-Romagna, Stefano Bonaccini, signed an agreement for a communication campaign to be run, entitled “Made in Italy and Emilia Romagna Grand Prix”, aimed at the automotive and related sectors in 26 priority Countries. It will be held on the occasion of the Formula 1 Grand Prix, which will take place in Imola on 18 April this year.
Besides the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and Emilia Romagna Regional Authority, ICE-Agenzia (Italian Trade Agency) and the Regional Promotion Agency (APT Servizi) will also be partners in the event. After its launch during the F1 GP in April, the campaign will be repeated at other events in the Emilia-Romagna Region’s motor racing season: Moto GP, World Superbike in Misano Adriatico, and the “Motor Valley Fest”.
Commenting on the agreement, Minister Di Maio pointed out that, “This agreement inaugurates an unprecedented synergy between institutions at a national and regional level, for relaunching exports. Our goal is to use an event with a very high international profile, to boost the image and competitiveness of Italian products and technologies, by bringing together sport and tourism, by way of passion for engines, creativity, beauty, and the territory”. In his turn, President Bonaccini commented, at the time of the signing: “Sport can take up a leading role in an upturn and rebirth of the territory. Emilia-Romagna believes in this opportunity, which will bring impetus to the economy as well”.
The automotive sector, which drives the Italian technology, innovation, and manufacturing sectors, recorded turnover of almost Euro 50 billion, with exports of more than 21 billion in 2019. In Emilia-Romagna alone, with its Motor Valley and iconic brands (Ferrari, Ducati, and Maserati), there are more than 16,000 companies who employ more than 66,000 people.
This initiative ties in which the upcoming launch of the extraordinary communication campaign promoted by the Foreign Ministry, as one of the “Pact for Export” measures – a dedicated programme to support internationalisation in the economic sectors particularly badly struck by the worldwide health emergency.
