2020 Extraordinary Plan for the Promotion of Made in Italy

Minister Luigi Di Maio,Roberto Gualtieri, Minister of Economy and Finance,Teresa Bellanova, Minister of Agriculture

Rome [ENA] On Tuesday, 3rd March 2020, in Rome has taken place the presentation of the 2020 Extraordinary Plan for the Promotion of Made in Italy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. The presentation has been opened by the Minister Luigi Di Maio. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T86hcMjVuJQ The opening speech has been followed by the speeches by Roberto Gualtieri, Minister of Economy and Finance,

Stefano Patuanelli, Minister of Economic Development, Teresa Bellanova, Minister of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t73Lx2JzcAM Paola De Micheli, Minister of Infrastructures and Transport, Gaetano Manfredi, Minister of Education, University and Research, Paola Pisano, Minister for Technological Innovation and Digitization, Lorenza Bonaccorsi, Under Secretary of State of the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities and Tourism, Girolamo Turano, Vicar Coordinator of the Productive Activities Committee of the Conference of Regions and Autonomous Provinces and Paolo Glisenti, Italian Commissioner General for Expo 2020 in Dubai.

2020 Extraordinary Plan for the Promotion of Made in Italy

Furthermore, representatives of institutional and private bodies involved in supporting the internationalisation of companies, such as the ICE – Italian Trade Agency, the CDP-SACE-SIMEST Pole of Export, the main trade associations (Unioncamere, Confindustria, R.ETE. Imprese Italia, ABI, Alleanza Cooperative italiane), the agri-food sector associations and the AEFI - Italian Exhibition and Trade Fair Association – have been present. This is a very difficult moment for Italians who are being accused – worldwide – of spreading the Covid-19 infection, like or even more than the Chinese, and no-one seems to care whether it’s true or not.

No less than seventeen countries have closed their borders to Italian travellers and dozens of airline companies are reconsidering their flight plans to and from Italy, from Lufthansa to EasyJet, from Delta to American Airlines. Italy is risking international isolation. The Foreign Minister, Luigi Di Maio, who yesterday afternoon was on the phone with the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, in an interview with La Stampa spoke about the plans the Government intends to put into place to confront the effects of the coronavirus crisis and warns Italy’s international partners of «a strong response, in the event of any senseless boycotts against our country». The worldwide circulation of fake news is seriously damaging Italy.

Distorted information has been put out there at an alarming rate. This is why the Government has also approved a plan to sent out correct information and real figures abroad. Some countries are denying access to italian citizens for no proven reason. Italy intends to respond to any nonsensical bias or boycotts, because, according to the Minister Di Maio, every single Italian, deserves and demands respect. The Foreign Ministry is taking the necessary steps to request the lifting of any unjustified boycotts. Italy has also clearly requested that these boycotts against Italy be included in the agenda of the next Foreign Affairs Council.

In the meantime the government has decided on 4th of march to close all of Italy's schools and universities until the middle of March because of the coronavirus. European Economic Affairs Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni declared in an interview distributed by Corriere della Sera that Europe is close to Italy and will assess with a "positive spirit" Italy's request for budget flexibility as part of economic measures to deal with the coronavirus emergency. Nevertheless, Gentiloni observed, Italy needs a reform plan to stimulate the economy and "I know that (Economy) Minister Roberto Gualtieri is working on it". A global response is necessary to tackle the outbreak and to coordinate European budget policies to support growth and employment.