On 6 September 2013 Ambassador Daniele Mancini led a mission to Bangalore aimed at exploring new business opportunities for Italian companies and at strengthening trade relations between Italy and the State of Karnataka. The Ambassador’s team included the Consul General in Mumbai Ugo Ciarlatani, the President of the Indo-Italian Chamber of Commerce Narinder K. Nayar and Secretary General of the Chamber Sergio Sgambato.
The immediate purpose of the mission, which represented Italy’s institutional system in India, was to acquaint the official and business leaders of Karnataka with the strengths of “Sistema Italia” i.e. Italy’s network of companies, associations, public and private bodies that are engaged, or aspire to engage, with India. Within the scope of India, the State of Karnataka is viewed as a partner offering important opportunities for co-operation in the areas of business, science and culture.
The visit began with Ambassador Mancini participating in a Seminar on Smart -Sustainable Cities and Communities , held at the World Trade Centre in Bangalore , organized within the scope of “LEGEM”, a unique project envisaging the construction in India of a model city that will combine sustainability with quality of life and those aesthetic values for which Italy is famous.
Subsequently, the Ambassador visited two Italian business establishments: the laboratories of Indena, one of the most interesting Italian companies producing for the pharma and cosmetic industry, and the office of Zuari, a company fully owned by Italcementi Group. With several production plants in India, Zuari is one of the top companies in the cement sector, with a turnover of nearly € 300 million and in consistent growth.
The afternoon was dedicated to science and technology. Ambassador Mancini visited the Institute of Science, a world renown research center for micro and nano technologies, and the Advanced Wood Working Trade Centre, an Indo-Italian Italian initiative for the teaching of wood-working through high tech machines.
The Bangalore mission continued with a meeting with representatives of 50 Italian companies located in Karnataka and later ended and with the Ambassador participating in a seminar to promote Italian investment in Karnataka, at the presence of over 200 Indian businessmen potentially interested in partnering Italian companies in business and trade.
The Italian mission to Bangalore clearly demonstrated that there still is ample space for Italian companies to engage in industrial ventures and trade promotion in the state of Karnataka, especially in highly skilled sectors such as industrial machines manufacturing, defense (with particular reference to the aerospace industry) and scientific research.
Some pictures of the visit at Indena’s Offices:
