Italy’s Ambassador to Qatar, Pasquale Salzano, (left) and Italian Trade Commissioner to Qatar, Giosafat Rigano’, addressing a press conference to announce Italy’s participation at QITCOM 2019 at the Italian Embassy yesterday. Pic: Abdul Basit/ The Peninsu
A high level Italian government and business delegation will attend the Qatar IT Conference and Exhibition (QITCOM 2019) which will open today at the Qatar National Convention Center (QNCC). As part of the four-day event, Italian Undersecretary of State for Defense Angelo Tofalo, who is leading the delegation, will also open a seminar tomorrow to showcase Italian cybersecurity and cyberdefense solutions.
The visiting Italian delegation also includes the Special Advisor to the Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs for Security Issues Carmine America, and the Director of the Italian Cybersecurity Management Board of the Italian Prime Minister’s Office Professor Roberto Baldoni.
Italian major companies and startups attending the exhibition will showcase a full range of Italian cutting-edge technology in smart cities, as well as advanced solutions for cybersecurity and cyberdefense, said Italy’s Ambassador to Qatar, Pasquale Salzano at a press conference yesterday.
The Italian pavilion at the exhibition is also expected to be one of the largest in the international area featuring two incubators and 12 startups, with key competencies spanning from smart building solutions to encryption systems, from water saving and smart agriculture technologies to data protection, added Italian Trade Commissioner to Qatar Giosafat Rigano’.
“Italy and Qatar have been strengthening over the years their relations and cooperation at all levels and in every sector. Smart cities, cyber defense and cyber security are another key area of mutual interest for our countries. Italian industry is experiencing robust growth in these sectors. Italy is the second leading country in Europe for manufacturing and a key country for these technologies in the world. And we are committed to offer the best in terms of innovation and cutting edge technology,” added Salzano.
The Italian cybersecurity market was reportedly valued at around $1.3bn last year, registering growth of 12 percent over the previous year. Cybersecurity is considered a top priority by the Italian government, which led to the publication of the first national guide ‘Cybersecurity in Italy: New opportunities for Business’.
During the workshop titled ‘Italian Cyber-Protection of the Defense Sector and of Critical Infrastructures’, which will be held from 2:30-5:00pm (room M218-219), the Italian cybersecurity national guide will be distributed to the participants. The publication provides an overview of the Italian cybersecurity architecture as well as new cybersecurity strategy, governance, and cyber-related economic trends.
