'Focus on new markets. The agreement between the EU and India is a priority. We need to negotiate with the US on tariffs, a task that the EU will have to carry out in unity. We need to relaunch multilateralism with new WTO rules that are in step with the times'. Thus Barbara Cimmino, Confindustria Vice President for Export and Investment Attraction, in an interview with Sole24Ore, speaking from Japan, the second leg of the journey with the first stop in India, at the Italy-India Science and Technology Entrepreneurial Forum - organised by Maeci and Agenzia Ice with the support of Confindustria - on the occasion of the government mission, then Osaka, at the inauguration of the Italian Pavilion at Expo, and finally Tokyo, to meet the Japanese Confindustria.

According to Cimmino theIndia is a market where we can grow a lotWe have about 700 companies in the area, bilateral trade reached EUR 14.24 billion in 2024, still not much. We have to investing in stable and integrated industrial partnerships, focusing on common supply chains, skills transfer and innovation.  According to the Confindustria Studies Centre, there is an Italian potential towards India of EUR 3.3 billion concentrated mainly in machinery, chemicals, metallurgy and electrical equipment'.

Then, thefree trade agreement for us 'is a strategic priority because it would create,' Cimmino added, 'a market of over 2 billion consumers, equal to more than 20% of global GDP, and could generate concrete benefits in terms of economic growth, investment, and employment. It is essential that the negotiations be concluded quickly, to work on reducing the obstacles that penalise our companies. Today it is not easy to work in India, there are technical barriers for many products. However we are moving forward as companies: the mission was a success, 140 companies plus associations were present at the Forum, more than 350 BtoB meetings were organised. The Indian Minister of Industry had a meeting of over two hours with a small group of entrepreneurs, a sign of great interest. We are already working on the follow-up: in June in Brescia there will be a meeting with Indian entrepreneurs on the aerospace industry. Giorgio Marsiaj, Confindustria's delegate for Aerospace, was also present at the mission'.

On the stage in Japan, at the opening ceremony of Expo 2025the Vice-President emphasised how not just a showcase for our country, 'but a multiplier of opportunities.  With 28 million visitors expected, it opens a dialogue with emerging eastern countries, which have a growing GDP, starting with Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, where we want and need to increase our presence'.

In the meeting with the Japanese Confindustria, Keidanren, Cimmino highlighted the need to relaunch the WTO with updated rulespointing to the G7-B7 meetings in May and the G20-B20 in November as opportunities to discuss this, and there Cimmino will be co-chair of the B20 Task Force on Trade and Investment.

Finally, on the Mercosur, the Vice-President emphasised that is decisivefor various reasons, and it would be a sign, if the US were to close, that the EU and other parts of the world still believe in multilateralism. Furthermore, the agreement contains rules that make it easier for SMEs to export. It is necessary to broaden the export base. And on internationalisation, Confindustria is also committed with concrete tools, such as the Expand digital platform, announced by President Orsini, to map and increase Italian potential in global markets'.