Sajjad Ahmad, Deputy Business Editor

The UAE is a very important trade partner of Italy as Italian exports to country witnessed 25 per cent growth last year, said Francesco Lollobrigida, Italian Minister of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forests during the inauguration of the Italy Pavilion at Gulfood on Monday in Dubai.

Francesco Lollobrigida said, “ Italian agri-food exports to the UAE recorded 46 per cent increase worth almost 400 million euros between (Jan-Nov, 2022).

He said that the trade relations between the two countries are growing and the Italian prime minister will be visiting the UAE shortly to strengthen the cooperation further.

Italian agri-food world exports reached a historic 60 billion euros value last year, up by 17%.

A wide sample of this authentic Italian offer, synonymous all over the world of safy, indisputable quality and variety, will be showcased this week at the Italian Pavillion and its 180 exhibitors at Gulfood 2023 (Dubai World Trade Centre, 20-24 February).

At the Italian Food Lab organised by the Italian Trade Agency, the Governmental Agency which promotes the Made In Italy in the world in accordance and along the guidelines of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Michelin Star Chefs including Saverio Sbaragli (Al Muntaha Burj Al Arab) and Giovanni Papi (Armani Ristorante Burj Khalifa) ans other Italian Chefs working in most prestigious Emirati restaurants will prepare classic Italian recipes using only 100% authentic and genuine Italian ingredients with a special focus on Pizza, Gelato and Caffè.

Italian cuisine is considered one of the best in the world for its variety of tasty and healthy dishes. The high quality raw ingredients along with the high safety standards throughout the food and production process, contributes to the global success of Italian food.

Among the boosters of Made in Italy f&b products all over the world and in the UAE: wine and other beverages (8 billion euros to the world; 68 million to the UAE, +61%); Pasta and cereal (over 7 billion euros exported worldwide; 50 million to the UAE, +31%). Extra virgin olive oil, as well as cheeses and cured meats, have also registered a significant increase in exports.

Organic ingredients have also contributed to the growth: sales of Made in Italy organic ingredients around the world reached 3.4 billion euros in 2022 (+16% compared to 2021). The recognition of organic Italian agri-food is also demonstrated by the long-term growth (+181% compared to 2012, an almost triple increase in value) and by the export share on the Made In Italy food basket (6% of total Italian agri-food exports in 2022 compared to 4% in 2012).

The Italy Pavilion and the Italian Food Lab at Gulfood were inaugurated by Matteo Zoppas, President of the Italian Trade Agency, together with Francesco Lollobrigida, Italian Minister of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forests.

During the inauguration Matteo Zoppas said: “Our successful role in supporting the internationalization of Italian SMEs is being shown this week and we are very proud that the export of Italian agri-food products to the UAE have reached double digit growth in 2022, with the larger increase among the whole products exported by Italy to the UAE: + 46% With the motto Sustainability is SustainabITALY, this year we are committed to boost even more “sustainable Italy-UAE partnerships” also in the food sector. This would represent also be one of our concrete contributions for the Agenda of next COP28 which will be host in the UAE later this year.”

As a matter of fact, organic agriculture plays a fundamental role in helping to preserve soil fertility and in contrasting climate change, the environment and the loss of biodiversity. With 17.4% of the total cultivation area dedicated to bio agriculture (2.1 million hectares, + 79% from 2012), Italy is one of the European countries with the highest number of companies involved in the organic sector - over 80,000.

Regarding product’s certifications, Italy has 842 classifications and holds 1st place in Europe for recorded and protected food-farming and viticulture products that contribute to 21% of exports in the Italian food-farming industry.

Over the last decade Italian agriculture recorded a drop of -32% for the use of phytosanitary products, confirming its position as the most sustainable country in Europe. The Italian industry with 30 M equivalent tonnes of CO generated is more virtuous than any other EU countries too.

ITA The Italian Trade Agency is the Government agency which promotes the globalization of Italian firms, under the aegis of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. ITA helps to develop, facilitate and promote Italian economic and trade relations with foreign countries, focusing on the needs of SMEs, their associations and partnerships. ITA sustains Italian firms in their internationalization process, promoting the marketing of Italian goods and services as well as the image of “Made in Italy” products around the world, while facilitating outward Italian investments and encouraging FDI attraction into Italy.

ITA provides information, support and consultancy services to Italian companies on foreign markets, in order to foster exports and economic cooperation in all sectors, with the objective of increasing the effectiveness of their presence on international markets. ITA works closely with the Italian Regions, the network of Italian Chambers of Commerce, business organizations and other public and private entities.