Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani is in Caserta today, together with his Dutch counterpart, Caspar Veldkamp, for the first event of a new mobilisation campaign for exports started by the Foreign Ministry, which is part of the fourth edition of the Vanvitelli/Van Wittel Roundtable.
Among the topics discussed, special attention will be paid to technological innovation, considered a key factor for European competitiveness and progress in the manufacturing and agricultural sectors, particularly relevant for countries such as Italy and the Netherlands, which are both centres of manufacturing and agrifood excellence.
Other topics discussed will include the strengthening of the defence sector and the role that the semi-conductor market should play in boosting competitiveness.
The dialogue started between Italy and the Netherlands is placed in a context of great trade volumes. Italian exports (€19.32bn in 2024, +4.5% compared to 2023) are focused on the pharmaceutical (€4.97bn), manufacturing (machinery and components, €2.23bn) and agri-food (€2bn) sectors. There are more than 500 Italian companies in the country, employing around 29,000 people, with a turnover of approximately €19bn.
The initiative, promoted by the Istituto Affari Internazionali (IAI) and the Dutch think tank Clingendael, aims to strengthen dialogue between Italy and the Netherlands on topics of common strategic interest, including at the level of civil society.
The Ministerial session, organised in collaboration with ITA, Confindustria and the Dutch Ministry of the Economy, will also be attended by the Confindustria’s Vice President of Young Entrepreneurs, Lorenzo Bagnoli; the Director of Economy and International Trade of the VNO-NCW (Confederation of Dutch Industries), Thomas Grosfeld,; the ITA Director General, Lorenzo Galanti, and the Managing Director of SIMEST, Regina Corradini D’Arienzo.
