The Hindu Business Line : Italy eyes Indian partners for greater tech innovation

Kolkata, Dec. 10 Describing Italy as being among the largest manufacturing economies of the world today, Mr Mauro Battocchi, Councillor, heading the Division for Trade and Investment Support, Department for Economic Affairs, Government of Italy, said here today that there should be greater business collaboration between the SMEs of Italy and India, particularly in West Bengal, in the emerging new economic environment.

Ideal platform

Citing his country as an ideal platform for entering the vast EU market, he said Italy could offer to India new markets and new product developments.

Seeking more Indian investments into Italy, he said some of the leading industry sectors in Italy today were manufacturing (automotive), furnishings, fashion & leather and food-processing.

Making a presentation on ‘Why Italy wants India to stay competitive’ at a workshop on ‘Technological Cooperation and Investment — The Indo-Italian Perspective’ organised by the Indo-Italian Chamber of Commerce here today, Mr Battocchi said Italy was searching for partners in India to bring about greater technological innovation in Italian industry.

“We want to tap the talented Indian technical pool through SME partnerships.”

The proposed new Italian Trade Office in Kolkata, to be located within the Italian Consulate premises, is likely to become operational by early January.

Ties with bengal

Giving the West Bengal perspective, Dr Sabyasachi Sen, Principal Secretary, Commerce and Industry, Government of West Bengal, said collaboration in the leather sector had been most encouraging.

He said following a MoU signed last February between the Italian Trade Commission, the Council for Leather Exports (CLE) and Assomac of Italy, a tanning, training and service centre would be set up in Kolkata soon. The project is co-financed by the Italian Trade Commission and the Government of India.

After the construction of the Calcutta Leather Complex in Bantala (eastern fringes of the city), the Indian Leather Products Association is setting up a Leather Good Park within the CLC. Some 90 leather units have acquired land in the Park.

Investment avenues

Highlighting the opportunities for investment in the leather sector in West Bengal, Mr S.S. Kumar, former president of CLE, said leather footwear was the engine of growth for this sector.

Calling for greater attention to speedy development of infrastructure in the State, Mr Kumar said substantial capacity increase was needed if the State’s leather goods sector has to become more competitive globally.

According to him, the MoU for the proposed Leather Footwear Park in the State is likely to be signed between West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation and the leather industry sometime next month.

He also cautioned that the Indian tanning sector was threatened by the high cost of environmental compliances thrust upon it by European buyers.