The Hindu Business Line : Italy keen on tie-ups in food processing, leather

Showing interest
The Italian govt will set up a Trade Commission office in Kolkata soon.
Italian FDI into India during 2006-07 “not very encouraging”.

Our Bureau

Kolkata, Oct. 15 Stressing on the need to raise the level of trade and economic cooperation between India and Italy, Mr Bruno Campria, the new Consul General of Italy in Kolkata, said here on Monday that his country was particularly keen on investments in West Bengal in the two specific areas of food-processing and leather. Some of the other areas for likely bilateral cooperation, singled out by the Consul, were chemicals and textiles.

Participating in an interactive session on “Further prospects of trade and economic cooperation between Italy and West Bengal”, organised by the Bharat Chamber of Commerce, Mr Campria said as a first step, the Italian government has decided to set up a Trade Commission office in Kolkata soon.

Two-way investments

He said following the visit of the Italian Prime Minister, Mr Romano Prodi, to India last year, it was felt necessary to increase the direct contacts between the businessmen of both the countries, particularly to facilitate two-way investments.

He described the Italian FDI into India during 2006-07 at €69.6 million as “not very encouraging”. Stating that Indo-Italian trade during 2006 was around € 2.17 billion, Mr Campria said the trend during the first six months of the current year was favourable at €1309 million, against the € 960 million for the same period last year.

The Consul also highlighted the on-going cultural ties between West Bengal and Italy, especially through the Roop Kala Kendra, and said the ties would be depended through a new programme of collaboration between Milan University and the cultural organisation in Kolkata.

More Stories on : Foreign Trade | West Bengal | Foods & Food Processing | Leather

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