WNAM REPORT: Italy has expressed the hope that its trade relations with Indonesia would improve in the future under the new government led by President Prabowo Subianto.
“So, we hope that with the new president, something will change, and the relationship with Europe and Italy, in particular, will become more tight,” Dr. Paolo Pinto, trade commissioner of the Italian Trade Agency (ITA), which is the trade promotion office of the Italian Embassy, said here on Thursday.
He noted that trade relations between Indonesia and Italy in all sectors are not very strong. This is because the two countries are geographically quite far apart, which makes the prices of traded goods and services more expensive.
The prices of Italian products are also normally high because Italy has a production of high quality and quality comes with a cost, he said.
He further said he believes that Indonesia is not so open to Europe for many political reasons.
He then expressed the hope that trade relations between Indonesia and Italy would improve under the new government.
He made the statement at a workshop organized by ITA along with the Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers Association (ACIMIT) to promote advanced Italian textile technology to textile players in Indonesia.
“Italian textile technology offers digital and automation solutions that can increase efficiency and reduce environmental impact,” he said.
At workshops held in Solo, Central Java, on November 12, 2024, and Bandung, West Java, on November 14, as many as 17 Italian manufacturers promoted their advanced textile technologies in various specializations, including finishing, dyeing, non-woven, spinning, weaving, knitting, and textile lab.
The workshops were expected to provide an opportunity for Indonesian players to experience the benefits of the technology first-hand.
In addition, they were expected to open up opportunities for beneficial business partnerships and enrich the insights of Indonesian textile players.
