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Shri EVKS Elangovan, the Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, called for increased cooperation with Italy in the fields of leather, handicrafts and design sectors. He said this when Mr. Gianfranco Alois, Minister for Trade and Industry, in the Regional Government of Campania, (South-west Italy) called on him last evening. In the meeting the two sides discussed ways to expand bilateral cooperation in the fields of information technology, tourism, energy and small and medium sectors.
India is having a world class design institute at Ahmedabad. Italy being an acknowledged centre of excellence in design, Mr. Alois suggested collaboration with the Maples University of Italy to undertake Faculty Development Programmes. Shri Elangovan said that India is looking to Italy not only for enhanced exports, but also to promote partnership in manufacture, technology and marketing in the leather sector. “India’s low production cost, leather availability, and abundant skilled labour can be synergized with Italian brand image and design capabilities to become world leaders in leather goods” the Minister said. The Council of Leather Exports has already taken steps to establish a ‘leather desk’ attached to the Indian embassy in Rome to organize exclusive investment promotion programmes in a more focused manner.
India’s bilateral trade with Italy was US $ 2.77 billion in the year 2003-04 and Italy ranks 12th in the list of countries from which FDI was approved in India since 1991.
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