Italian delegation visits Singapore to promote “Made In Italy” label

Major Italian sector federations have shared how they will work with local associations on a visit to Singapore to promote the Made in Italy label. Their message was that Italy has first-class capabilities that match the needs of a rapidly evolving ASEAN, and that ASEAN can leverage the Made In Italy success to fast-track their own goals.

2018 marks two decades since Singapore and Italy embarked on formal economic co-operation and exchange activities. Recognising that innovation drives the transformation of economies and societies, Singapore and Italy agreed to intensify long-term co-operation across various sectors from fashion to healthcare, furniture and technology.

“Singapore, with its smart city ambition, and businesses around the region can take advantage of the opportunities we bring. With cumulative knowledge and strong relationships, we can leverage on our experience to overcome challenges and fast-track the attainment of industrial and development goals,” said Leonardo Radicati, Director, Italian Trade Agency Singapore. 

UCIMU Sistemi Per Produrre, the Italian machine tool, robots, automation systems and ancilliary products manufacturers’ association, will help improve commercial networks and implement university networks, and attend the most important ASEAN trade fairs. The association will also organise study tours of the main ASEAN countries and provide local end-user analysis. UCIMU will also implement technology centres that feature Italian machine tools in ASEAN.

“The ASEAN countries represent not only an interesting area of diffusion of Made in Italy of the sector, but also a stimulating opportunity to cooperate with the local manufacturing companies. For this reason, UCIMU-SISTEMI PER PRODURRE takes part in High Level Dialogue on ASEAN-Italy Economic Relations whose aim is to improve the dialogue among Italian and ASEAN companies and institutions,” said Massimo Carboniero, President UCIMU SISTEMI PER PRODURRE and MD, OMERA.

The second edition of the High Level Dialogue on ASEAN Italy Economic Relations was held on 11 April 2018. Between 2011 and 2017, sales to ASEAN countries more than doubled. Bilateral trade between Italy and ASEAN countries reached €16 billion in 2017. 

Source: ANIMA. Alberto Caprari,
President, ANIMA and CEO,
 Caprari.

Over the next three years, ANIMA, the Federation of Italian Associations of Mechanical and Engineering Sectors, says it will strengthen ties with ASEAN governments, institutions, and trade associations. It will do this through trade fairs, business-to-business (B2B) missions and events dedicated to showcase Italy’s technological excellence from a solution enabler point of view. 

Italy saw a drop of 2.8% in exports of for mechanical technologies and engineering to ASEAN in 2017 when compared to 2016. That said, Italian mechanical and engineering exports to selected countries was up. Laos numbers increased fivefold, Indonesia imports from Italy were up by 35.9%, Philippines by 38.6%, Malaysia by 17.2% and Vietnam by 15.1%. Thailand and Singapore decreased its orders by 41% and 31.3% respectively.

“The industrial ecosystem is changing. We can turn advanced production systems into intelligent ones. We can help manufacturers turn from mass producers into mass customisers; from focus on product sale to product (solutioning),” said Alberto Tripi, Board Member, Confindustria Digitale, the Association for Italian Digital Technology. 

Italy’s technological strengths in the industrial Internet, cloud computing, cybersecurity and big data analytics can benefit ASEAN’s industries such as fashion and luxury, tourism and artistic heritage, financial services, automotive and transportation, energy and utilities, environment and agrifood, healthcare and mechanics and special machines, Confindustria Digitale believes.