1. Please tell us about the principal function and role of the Italian Trade Agency

(ITA) ITA - Italian Trade Agency is the Governmental agency that supports the business development of Italian companies abroad and promotes the attraction of foreign investment in Italy under the supervision of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation. It aims to promote Italian business in foreign countries and assist them to penetrate and establish economic relations with foreign companies in the host countries. We also help local companies here that want to build cooperation with Italian business counterparts, to attract Indonesian investment to Italy and to promote Italian investment to Indonesia.

2. How does ITA promote Italy in Indonesia?

We promote Italy through various promotional activities such as sending Indonesian companies for missions in Italy, participating at the local exhibitions, organizing seminars, workshops and conferences, providing commercial assistance and economic information as well as collaboration with local counterparts. In 2023, we sent 103 Indonesian companies representatives in numerous sectors such as food and beverage, jewelry, footwear, furniture and furnishing, book publishing, cosmetics and perfumery, fashion, automotive, energy, agriculture and many more. Last year we collaborated with Hero Supermarket at the Pondok Indah Mall for our annual campaign, the World Week of Italian Cuisine in the World, an event where we promote Italian culinary and tradition. We also made a special magazine publication on the occasion of Italian Design Day in collaboration with Indonesia Design Magazine, for a special coverage of Italian furniture companies looking for Indonesian partners. I n 2024, until October we sent 61 Indonesian companies representatives in Italy.

3. What is the World Week of Italian Cuisine?

The World Week of Italian Cuisine is an annual event that aims to promote Italy’s culinary tradition, highlighting the excellence of Italian production, the quality of Made in Italy’s products in the agro-food sector and culinary sector. Cuisine has always been part of the essential components of Italy identity and culture. This annual event has taken place for over the years and has been successfully realized by the support of Italian Embassies, Consulates and Italian Cultural Institutes in what nowadays has become an event of great importance. This 2024 marks the ninth edition of the World Week of Italian Cuisine with the theme “Mediterranean Diet and Recipes from our Roots: Health and Tradition”. The Mediterranean Diet is much more than a simple diet: it is a lifestyle based on the centuries-old traditions of the populations living in the countries of the Mediterranean basin. The model has proven to be one of the most effective for the prevention of chronic diseases and for the maintenance of health, thanks to the balance and variety of its foods that are able to provide all the nutrients necessary for a healthy life.

4. How do you promote the Italian food

We invite the Indonesian counterparts to visit exhibitions in Italy such as SIGEP, the specialized trade show on pastry, bakery, coffee and gelato, TUTTOFOOD, international food exhibition for the entire agri-food ecosystem, CIBUS, the leading event for the Italian agro-food sector, which for the next year’s edition will be organized at the same time as TUTTOFOOD.

5. Where do you think the best place for Indonesians to learn about Italy's presence in Indonesia?

Aside from Italian restaurants, which are becoming more and more numerous in Jakarta and which indicate an evergrowing interest in Food Made in Italy, there is also the Italian Cultural Institute, where it is possible to follow exhibitions, film festivals and Italian language courses. In the age of communication I cannot help but mention the many YOU TUBE channels that talk about Italy. Just type the name of any well-known Italian location, such as Capri, Ischia, Venice, Rome, Florence, to have a series of documentaries dedicated to Italian places and products made in Italy.

For any Indonesian companies interested in obtaining information about trade shows in Italy or any market information, please contact: