May 20 – To promote Italian exports in Southeast Asia and reach in three years €50 billion in additional exports to emerging markets around the world, the Italian government looks to Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore and the Philippines and at how to further expand Italy’s presence. The Deputy Minister of Economic Development, Carlo Calenda, outlined Italy’s objectives in ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) during the conference “Italian Companies in ASEAN”, organized yesterday by the Ministry and the Italian Trade Agency. “While ASEAN is the center of a geopolitical area from which great dangers can potentially arise – says Calenda – it is also an area with enormous potential for growth: we must focus, invest and sell more in this area.” According to Calenda, South-East Asia “is the theater in which a great match for international relations is being played,” and for this reason “we must support the development process of the area.” This process also involves the EU trade policy, to facilitate interchange and reduce tariff barriers. In this sense, Benedetto Della Vedova, Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Undersecretary, assures that “Europe is looking to ASEAN in terms of politics and security as well as in economic terms, with a contribution of €170 million in the 2014-2020 period, compared to the €70 million of previous years.” The importance of ASEAN pushes Europe to prioritize trade negotiations in which Italy, according to Della Vedova, “has a central role.” The partnership is based on the three pillars of the area: political and security, economic and socio-cultural cooperation. The Secretary General of ASEAN, Le Luong Minh, is convinced that “Italy will be one of the most important partners and will help make more felt Europe’s participation,” because “the economic future of the area offers great opportunities both for us and the international community.” “2015 was an important year in the history of ASEAN and the process of integration between Southeast Asia countries,” commented former Prime Minister Enrico Letta, stressing that “the completion of ASEAN economic and trade integration is a major shift in the history of the Asian continent and in the rapprochement process with the European Union.” Letta also added that “ASEAN, as the EU, is a union of minorities who are willing to work and grow together,” and that this “natural harmony can be interesting for Italian companies.” If ASEAN were a single country, its GDP would be seventh worldwide, it would be the fourth largest exporter, and the third most populous state. “ASEAN – concluded Letta – is a very interesting area for Italy, who decided to work as a team and bet on the internationalization of its companies.” (Sip)
