On the occasion of the Italy-Latin America Business Forum in Prato, Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani met today with El Salvador’s Vice President Félix Ulloa, Uruguay’s Foreign Minister Mario Lubetkin, and Venezuela’s Minister of Foreign Trade Johann Álvarez Márquez.
The meetings confirmed the centrality of Latin America in Italian foreign policy, based on strong historical, cultural, and economic ties and the widespread presence of communities of Italian origin in the region. The Forum highlighted the vitality of an already significant economic partnership – with trade reaching €34 billion in 2025 -and the broad growth prospects, also in light of the Agreement between the European Union and Mercosur.
During the talks, Minister Tajani reviewed key regional developments, with particular attention to the situation in Venezuela, reaffirming Italy’s willingness to share expertise and best practices, particularly through the Guardia di Finanza (Inland Revenue Police) in the fight against organized crime.
On the bilateral level, with Vice President Ulloa, the positive phase of relations between Italy and El Salvador and the strengthening of political dialogue were highlighted. The contribution of Italian companies to the country’s infrastructure modernization programs was explored, along with the role of the Italian Development Cooperation, which identifies El Salvador as a priority partner in areas such as the environment, agriculture, education, justice, healthcare, cultural heritage, and urban development.
During the meeting with Minister Lubetkin, the excellent state of bilateral relations was reaffirmed, as well as the desire to further strengthen the strategic partnership, also through ongoing negotiations on specific agreements, including the one in the air transport sector.
With Venezuelan Minister Álvarez Márquez, Minister Tajani reaffirmed his support for the release of all detainees for political reasons. He also expressed his interest in further developing trade and promoting new investment, particularly in the infrastructure and energy sectors.
