Bonds that bind UAE and Italy

Mauro Marzocchi, secretary General, IICUAE

The Chamber's mission is to enhance the socio-economic relations between Italy and the UAE

By Sadiq Shaban

Published: Tue 29 Dec 2015, 1:45 PM

Last updated: Tue 29 Dec 2015, 3:48 PM

The Italian Industry & Commerce Office in the UAE (IICUAE) is a non-profit organisation that offers consistent assistance to Italian enterprises in their survey and approach to the bustling UAE market, as well as to the Emirati operators who are interested in the Italian market.
"Our activity basically consists of supporting Italian companies wanting to approach the UAE market and the ones already established in this market. The Chamber assists local operators who aim to enhance their relations with Italy as well. Last year we assisted 785 companies. Starting off with one secretary in 1999, we now have more than 300 members and 11 employees. IICUAE has a turnover of ?1,250,000 with our office located in the prestigious 48 Burjgate, Dubai Downtown," Mauro Marzocchi, Secretary General, IICUAE told Khaleej Times in an exclusive interview.
This year IICUAE closely cooperated with Calabria region and Unioncamere Calabria. "We and Calabria region have successfully carried out a one-year complex and multi-sectoral project, while our cooperation with Unioncamere Calabria has been focused on the promotion of typical agri-food products of Calabria. In this connection, IICUAE has organised events at Ospitalita' Italiana certified restaurants (Bice, Casa Mia and Bussola) to promote the project, with the introduction of a typical Calabria cuisine into the menu of these restaurants for 10 days. It has proved to be very successful. I would like to mention our Chamber has been promoting the Ospitalita' Italiana project of Unioncamere Roma in the UAE for five years. This year as many as eight Italian restaurants have been certified," he noted.
Marzocchi added that two further initiatives deserve a mention: Italian Festival Weeks that will be on its 10^th edition in 2016 and the three collective initiatives involving Italian companies in the fields of cosmetics, food, and home and furniture. The outcome of these intertwined initiatives has been positive and satisfactory for the 86 involved companies, especially for the ones operating in the cosmetics sector.
Setting his foot in Dubai first in 1985 for a fashion exhibition called Mothexa, Marzocchi (together with 15 Italian companies) attended each edition of the fair. He recalls, "In 1998, I launched a project supported by the Italian Ministry of Economic Development, and this project has actually evolved into the Italian Industry and Commerce Office in the UAE. This 30-year activity was rewarded, with great emotion, with an honorary degree from a private university in Switzerland last year."
The UAE in general and Dubai in particular has been special for IICUAE. "All along we believed in the potential of this mega city. Even during the difficult years, like the invasion of Kuwait and global terror attacks, we have always been here, trusting this country and in its forward-looking rulers," the Secretary General added.

Status of the Italian Industry & Commerce Office in the UAE

The Chambers of Commerce abroad, like IICUAE, are defined as semi-institutional and bilateral entities. "IICUAE was officially recognised by the Italian government in 2009 and since then it has been under the Italian Ministry of the Economic Development and the Embassy in charge of approving the programmes of our annual activities. Moreover, we are part of Sistema Italia, a committee that the Italian Government wants to be present worldwide. In the UAE, it includes our Chamber, the Italian Trade Commission, the Consulate and Promos, under the direction of the Embassy. This committee periodically meets to coordinate the activities of the Italian entities in the UAE," Marzocchi ellaborated.
"Our Chamber constantly cooperates with the Italian institutions in the UAE. I would like to mention the active participation of the Consulate in the IICUAE's activities and its support in issuing business visas, an essential support that helps cement business with Italy.
"Speaking of business, this year we have seen record numbers. Exports from Italy to the UAE have risen by 19 per cent (updated in October 2015), compared to the previous year, and exports from the UAE to Italy have also increased by 46 per cent. The balance of trade is now in favour of Italy. This year will certainly set a record for trade between the two countries," he concluded.
sadiq@khaleejtimes.com