The Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Antonio Tajani, is undertaking a mission to Mexico from 22 to 24 May to meet with local authorities, members of the business community, representatives of the Italian expatriate community, and to participate in the Italy-Mexico Business Forum.
This marks the first visit to Mexico by an Italian Foreign Minister in ten years. In Mexico City, the Minister will hold meetings with the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Economy, Interior, Security, and Tourism. These meetings will provide an opportunity to take stock of the state of bilateral relations between the two countries, within the framework of the Strategic Partnership launched in 2012.
“Mexico is a strategic economic partner for Italy. It is our leading export market in Latin America, also thanks to the significant presence of Italian businesses in the country, with a very dynamic trade exchange which in 2024 exceeded EUR 8 billion,” declared the Minister. “The Italy-Mexico Business Forum marks a new stage in the implementation of the Export Action Plan, which aims to further strengthen the already excellent bilateral relations through the development of key industrial sectors such as the automotive industry, the green economy, physical and digital infrastructure, and food production and processing”.
The mission will also provide an opportunity to deepen cooperation in combating organised crime and mafia networks. On the anniversary of the Capaci massacre (23 May 1992), Tajani will visit an exhibition dedicated to the work of Italy’s first female photojournalist, Letizia Battaglia.
Cultural promotion will also be a central theme of the visit. It will be addressed during an event on the fight against illicit trafficking of cultural heritage, a lectio magistralis at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, and the inauguration of an exhibition by Gabriele Basilico. “Italy and Mexico are both cultural powerhouses, united in the belief that cultural heritage is an integral part of national identity — a principle reflected in both our Constitutions — and one that must be properly promoted, safeguarded and protected”.
