BIZ TODAY REPORT
KARACHI: The Consulate of Italy in Karachi organized a seminar titled “Doing Business with Italy – Seminar and Sectorial Networking” and this was the second edition from series of seminars that are planned by the consulate of Italy in collaboration with Italian Development Committee (IDC), Italian Association of Foreign Trade (AICE) and Italian Trade Agency (ICE).
This second edition of the seminar will be divided into three parts;
01) Introduction of Italian companies, 02) Sectorial networking sessions and 03) visits to relevant industrial plants throughout Pakistan.
The five Italian companies that will we present represent different sectors such as food sector, industrial automation sector, control systems, banking + financial services and pharmaceutical + nutraceuticals sector and all these sectors have great potentials.
Mr. Gianluca Rubagotti, Counsel General of Italy in Karachi in his welcome speech said; he was pleased to welcome to all participants of the seminar, and the counsel general specially thanked the delegates who had travelled all the way from Italy to come to Pakistan.
He further said that; “this is the second edition of series of seminars of this this format and we hope to take this series of seminar further. It’s about two countries who are ready to accept each other more. Each passing year we have seen an increase of 50% trade between our two countries”.
We are willing to make institutes stronger, who are willing to work together and was hopeful that IDC will grow into something bigger like Pakistan Italy Council or Chamber of Commerce for Italy Pakistan.
Mr. Pierantonio Cantoni representative from Italian Association of Foreign Trade (AICE) briefed about what it has to offer and said that there are around 6 million companies in Italy and almost 32000 companies in automotive sector. Italy is one of the biggest importer and exporter in the world and Italy imports textile articles, cotton, leather and plastic items from Pakistan and export machineries like textile machinery, plastic machinery and many other types of machineries. Also present from AICE was Mr. Giovanni Di Nardi.
Ms. Donatella Pomari from Caffe Ottolina was next to brief about the company she was representing
Caffe Ottolina which according to her is medium size company with a willingness to expand by venturing into new territories. Currently their main achievement in Italy is being the main coffee supplier for McDonalds and they have also launched their “Ottolina Café” as its own stand along concept store. Ottolina Café is fast becoming a hallmark locations in Hotel/Restaurant/Café (Horeca Industry).
Mr. Alistair Robert Newell from UBI Banca informed that UBI Banca is the fourth largest Italian commercial banking group in terms of market capital with a market share of 6%, 1948 branches in Italy. UBI Banca also referred as Union Bank of Italy, handles relations with Pakistani banks and at an average handles around 300 import letter of credits (LC’s) per year. During 2015 volume of business was 10 million Euros, which rose to 24 million Euros for 2016 and during this year till October 2017 volume stands at 33 million Euros.
Mr. Fedrico Cellini from ItalMec couldn’t make to Pakistan to due to personal matters and on his behalf Mr. Aarij Iqbal was kind enough to give a detailed presentation on ItalMec group of companies which specializes in industrial material handling product representing Dalmec S.p.A., who are world leaders in custom made pneumatic manipulators, tailored pneumatic devices, which are relevant for all major industries like, Aeronautic, Automotive, Building, Ceramic, Chemical, Electrical Appliance, Electro-mechanic, Electronic, Food & beverage, Foundry, Textiles & Wood.
Ms. Primarosa Zampieron gave details of MedheCa Trade and with her were Mr. Salvatore di Meo and Mr. Luigi Luciano. She informed that MedheCa Trade has been doing well in Iran which is a very important market for them, and now have plans to enter Pakistani market too. MedheCa Trade has collaborations with important Italian and European companies in various fields including, Pharmaceutical, Dermocosmetic, Nutraceutical, Medical devices and in Medical Equipment.
Mr. Guido Besati and Mr. Ezio dell’Oro from Automazioni Ties SRL, which was formed during 2005 and since grown tremendously. Its aims at developing automation technologies for industrial plants and in particular for oil and gas, process control, building automation and business intelligence sectors. It has developed for major hardware manufacturers like Siemens, ABB, Allen Bradley, Hima, Telemeccanique, ECC and many more.
After introductory sessions, delegates and participants were divided by sectors into much smaller groups where they shared their business interests. This session was termed as sectorial networking.
On the concluding note Mr. Aarij Iqbal thanked all the delegates who had travelled from Italy and were bringing in their technology which we do not have. Alghough Mr. Aarij Iqbal has almost completed his tenure as head of IDC but was asked by the Italian Ambassador to carry on.
He further informed that Italian Development Committee (IDC) has entered into Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Italian Association of Foreign Trade (AICE) in March 2016m, by which AICE has become an official partner of IDC in Italy and both these entities jointly work for promotion of bilateral trade between Italy and Pakistan.
Seminar concluded with a lavish Italian dinner that was enjoyed by all.
