Massimiliano Tremiterra, trade commissioner at the Shanghai office of ITA (Photo/Liu Yijing)

Nov. 5 (NBD) -- Over 100 Italian enterprises, led by Italian Deputy Prime Minister Luigi Di Maio, are heading for the first China International Import Expo (CIIE) trade fair which will be run from November 5 to November 10, 2018, Massimiliano Tremiterra, trade commissioner at the Shanghai office of Italian Trade Agency (ITA), told NBD.

In an exclusive interview with NBD, Tremiterra said that he deemed the CIIE a great opportunity for the Italian companies which made their first steps into China to better understand the Chinese market.

NBD: Italy is one of the first European countries to confirm the attendance at the CIIE. What Italian enterprises will come to the trade fair and what products and technological results will be displayed?

Tremiterra: I am very much looking forward to the Expo and we are well prepared for it. Italian Deputy Prime Minister will lead more than 100 Italian companies to the trade fair, 80 of which are small and medium-sized enterprises led by ITA. Among them are also companies which participate the fair independently.

Our exhibition area at the Expo consists of one national pavilion and four corporate pavilions which are themed respectively with the food products, daily goods, intelligence, and healthcare industries.

NBD: How did Italian enterprises respond when the ITA introduce the CIIE to them?

Tremiterra: We had promoted the CIIE to attract enterprises in two major cities, Rome and Milan. After our introduction, Italian companies are very excited about the trade fair, because every one of them values China as an emerging market.

NBD: What expectations do you have towards China-Italy trade relationship after the six-day event?

Tremiterra: The significance of the Chinese market for Italy is self-evident. But due to differences in laws and regulations between China and the European Union and the fact that most of Italian enterprises are small and medium-sized, how to make the best use of such characteristic to get Italian companies to play a big role in the Chinese market is challenging.

We already have an annual plan for follow-up progresses. What is certain is that Italy and China will have lots of exchanges in the future. ITA will not only support overseas expansion of Italian enterprises, but also facilitate foreign companies' investment in Italy.

Photo/VCG

NBD: In virtue of the CIIE, China, with an open attitude, welcomes countries and enterprises all over the globe. As a matter of fact, China has been more open to the world in recent years with its continuously optimized business environment. Do Italian companies in the Chinese market feel the changes in concrete terms?

Tremiterra: Of course they have seen the Chinese market become more suitable for foreign enterprises to do business. Under such a market environment, Italian companies are more willing to invest and feel more secure to do business in China.

The changes we have seen in the Chinese market can be concluded as two major aspects: first, more open policies concerning business, accounting and financial affairs, and second, changes in relation to labor force.

NBD: Earlier in August this year, Italy’s Ministry of Economic Development announced the launch of the Task Force China. Would you like to give us a brief introduction about this initiative?

Tremiterra: The Task Force China represents a strategic mechanism which serves for bilateral trade between China and Italy, and is a high-level deployment.

When Italy's new government took office this June, it saw a new opportunity to have an exclusive strategy for China, so as to treat the Chinese market in a special manner. I think such initiative is very far-sighted.

The Task Force China is expected to do more analysis of the Chinese market from the perspectives of economy, politics and laws, in order to help Italian government as well as private enterprises better understand the Chinese market.

Email: gaohan@nbd.com.cn