Giosafat Rigano, Italian Trade Commissioner to Qatar
Total trade volume between Qatar and Italy increased by 23 percent to about €1.36bn during the first six months of this year compared to the same period last year, Italian Trade Commissioner to Qatar Giosafat Rigano’ has said in an interview with The Peninsula yesterday.
During the first half of this year, Italian imports from Qatar, which was mainly oil and gas, increased by almost eight percent to €679m, while Italian exports also rose by 38 percent to €680m compared to the same period last year. Italian exports to Qatar were machinery, consumption goods, agrifood, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, fashion accessories, and furniture, said Rigano’, citing data from the Italian National Institute of Statistics (Istat).
“We also have a trade surplus of around €1m, which shows that our bilateral relation is improving incredibly. We’re getting positive results in the economic sector, and this is the right time to give a further boost to several trade industries, such as food, cosmetics, and digital economies. We’re trying our best to give concrete signs of our growing presence in Qatar,” Rigano’ said.
He added that representatives from a number of prominent Italian companies are expected to arrive in Qatar soon to participate in various exhibitions which will be hosted in the country.
An Italian delegation comprising of 15 startup companies and incubators will attend the Qatar Information Technology Conference and Exhibition (QITCOM 2019) which will open on October 29. A seminar featuring top Italian companies in the field of smart technology and cyber security will also be held during the event, while the exhibition will also feature the Italian pavilion which is expected to be one of the biggest foreign pavilions during QITCOM 2019, added Rigano’.
For the first time in Qatar, a global road show for Cosmoprof Worldwide Bologna, which is billed as the world’s biggest international trade show for the beauty industry, will also be presented during the HEYA exhibition on October 25 at the Doha Exhibition Convention Center (DECC).
Senior officials from Cosmoprof, which will hold its 52nd edition in March 2020, will promote the major global beauty event to beauty retailers, distributors, as well as the media, including bloggers, and influencers in Qatar.
The Italian beauty road show will also be attended by Italy’s Ambassador to Qatar Pasquale Salzano, prominent Qatari businessman Ashraf Abu Issa, Chairman of Abu Issa Holding Qatar, and speakers from the fashion and beauty industry.
Rigano’ added that over 10 of the most important Italian ports and freight villages, including the Venice Port Authority, will also participate in the upcoming Qatar Silk Road Exhibition which will be held from November 3-5 at the DECC.
Over 30 Italian companies specialising in food products and related services, will also participate in the upcoming Hospitality Qatar 2019 which will open on November 12. The companies, which are under the Italian Confederation of Crafts and Small and Medium Enterprises (CNA) will also be featured at the Italian pavilion during the exhibition. Italian companies from the southern part of Italy will also be promoted during the event.
As part of the growing trade relations between Qatar and Italy, particularly in the food sector, the ‘Breakfast Made in Italy’ programme will also be launched at the Italian Ambassador’s home on November 10, added Rigano’. The ‘breakfast’ programme will serve as a business platform for connecting hotel operators, HORECA suppliers and investors.
