ROME HOSTS ITALY-AZERBAIJAN ROUNDTABLE

As part of the Azerbaijani President’s working visit to Italy, Rome hosted the Italy-Azerbaijan roundtable on Thursday.

The event was co-organized by the Ministry of Economy of Azerbaijan, the Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Agency (AZPROMO), the Confederation of the Italian Industry (Confindustria), and Italy’s Ministry for Enterprises and Made in Italy.

The roundtable brought together officials and over 40 entrepreneurs from sectors such as energy, chemicals, the automotive industry, pharmaceuticals, construction, and metallurgy.

Addressing the roundtable, Mikayil Jabbarov, Azerbaijan’s Economy Minister, characterized Azerbaijan-Italy relations as strategic, describing Italy as Azerbaijan’s largest trade partner. He emphasized the importance of strengthening cooperation with Italy, particularly noting the successful involvement of numerous Italian companies in various sectors of Azerbaijan’s economy, including their activity in the liberated Azerbaijani territories. The minister stressed that the discussions and agreements reached at the roundtable would create new opportunities and further enhance relations between the two countries.

Adolfo Urso, Minister for Enterprises and Made in Italy, and Emanuele Orsini, President of the Confederation of the Italian Industry (Confindustria), emphasized the strategic energy partnership between Azerbaijan and Italy, highlighting the potential for expanding bilateral cooperation in the non-oil sector.

Other speakers included Yusif Abdullayev, Executive Director of AZPROMO, Orkhan Mammadov, Chairman of the Board of Azerbaijan’s Small and Medium Business Development Agency (KOBIA), Ulvi Mansurov, Executive Director of “Azerbaijan Investment Company” OJSC, and Elkin Nurmammadov, Vice Rector of Azerbaijan’s ADA University. They provided insights into Azerbaijan’s export and investment potential.

The discussions also focused on boosting cooperation in sectors such as industry, renewables, infrastructure, transport, textiles, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals.

The event concluded with the signing of several Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) between AZPROMO and Confindustria, Azerbaijan’s Matanat A and Italy’s Dromont Comec, “Improtex Industries” LLC and Leonardo Electronics, and Saloğlu and Italy’s Visionnaire – İPA and Biesse S.P.A companies.

These documents envisage joint production, services, research, project development, and experience exchange.

The Azerbaijani delegation also held meetings with representatives of the Italian Trade Agency, Annatura Company, Scorpio Group, and Coldiretti Company.