Italy to set up cultural centre in capital

To further boost bilateral relations between the two countries and let the people gain a better understanding of the Italian culture, Rome has decided to set up a cultural centre in the federal capital.

This was disclosed by the Italian Ambassador Andreas Ferrarese on Tuesday.

"I want to open up a cultural centre, maybe in one part of the new embassy, and promote Italian cuisine, art, paintings, music so that the Pakistanis can know more about Italy," he said while elaborating on the centre.

Ferrarese added that he wanted to set up the cultural centre in the embassy, construction of which is underway in the diplomatic enclave. He added that construction of the new embassy building was his priority.

He underlined the importance of promoting cultural connectivity as a means to help promote bilateral trade.

The envoy said that he will also encourage the exchange of students to further strengthen bilateral relations.

Ferrarese said that there was huge trade potential in different sectors of the economy which can be exploited. In this regard, he said that soon, a new economic mission will also be deployed in Pakistan to enhance trade and economic connectivity.

If bilateral trade between the two countries is promoted to its full potential, it can rise from its current level of $1.7 billion to $5 billion in the next three years.

Replying to a question, he said that Pakistan had exported goods worth $731 million to Italy during the fiscal year 2019-20. Major exports included textiles, leather, rice, ethanol, cotton, crocheted, cereals, rawhides and other skins, beverages, spirits and vinegar, plastics, footwear and gaiters.

During the same period, Ferrarese said Pakistan's imports from Italy stood at $521 million and included ships, boats, and other floating structures, machinery, pharmaceutical products, aircraft, spacecraft, electrical, electronic equipment, Organic chemicals, iron and steel, miscellaneous chemical products, optical, photo, technical and medical apparatus.

Apart from products and goods, he said that Italy is also providing technical assistance in textiles, leather and marble sectors.

He said dairy and livestock, olive and olive products, plastics, processed food and the construction sector are the areas where Italy can expand its cooperation with Pakistan.

Moreover, Italy was also supporting Pakistan in the Generalized Scheme of Preferences (GSP+) status in every review by the European Union countries.

Further, the ambassador said that Italy has become the largest contributor from the EU in home remittances to Pakistan.

The envoy said that the Pak-Italy Joint Economic Commission, a forum for bilateral economic engagement, was expected to meet in Rome in the last quarter of this year.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 16^th, 2020.