The Table with the Regions for Internationalisation took place yesterday at the Farnesina. The technical meeting was organised by Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI) with the participation of Italian Trade Agency, Regions and Autonomous Provinces, with the aim of promoting a coordinated and effective use of the tools offered by the Italian System to support Italian companies active in foreign markets, in synergy with local authorities, in line with Italian Trade Agency’s 2025–27 planning decree signed by Minister Antonio Tajani on 8 October.
MAECI’s overseas network – comprising 130 Embassies, over 80 Consulates, 9 Permanent Representations, 88 Italian Cultural Institutes, and 87 ITA offices and liaison points – is a key instrument to enhance Italy’s international projection and contribute to achieving the EUR 700 billion export target at the heart of the Export Plan, promoted by Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Antonio Tajani as an expression of growth-oriented diplomacy.
A central role is played by the tools offered by MAECI–ITA for the trade fair sector, including national pavilions abroad, which strategically showcase the Made in Italy brand at major international exhibitions, and incoming activities for Italian fairs, designed to bring qualified foreign operators – buyers, importers, designers, specialised media – to Italy, creating direct commercial opportunities for national exhibitors.
Economic partnership events, such as Business Forums and Italian System or sector-specific missions organised by MAECI and the Italian Trade Agency, serve as concrete instruments for the internationalisation of Italy’s productive sector, aimed at expanding the presence of Italian companies abroad and enhancing their export capacity, particularly in the most dynamic markets and high-potential sectors.
To support the EUR 700 billion target, regions have access to initiatives including agreements with large-scale retailers, e-commerce platforms, training programmes, and the portal Opportunitalia (link: Opportunitaly.gov.it), which facilitates connections between Italian companies and foreign professional contacts.
During the meeting, the specialised EXPO to be held in Belgrade in 2027, entitled “Play for Humanity. Music and Sport for All”, was presented, highlighting regional participation in line with the approach adopted at EXPO Osaka.
The meeting also provided an opportunity to review 2025 planning and update regional authorities on the promotional plan under preparation for 2026, consolidating institutional dialogue, understanding priorities and needs, and coordinating promotional actions to maximise the impact of available resources. Italian Trade Agency’s regulations recognise the essential role of the Regions in the governance of internationalisation. Today’s discussion represented a key moment of synthesis and verification to ensure coherence, complementarity, and maximum effectiveness of planned initiatives.
