London: Undersecretary Tripodi meets Minister of State for Trade Policy and Economic Security Douglas Alexander and visits SIAL School and the Italian Cultural Institute

The Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Maria Tripodi, met this morning in London with her British counterpart in Trade, Douglas Alexander. The productive bilateral meeting provided an important opportunity to strengthen trade relations between the two countries, in line with the Memorandum of Understanding signed by both governments in April 2023 and the discussions held during meetings between Prime Minister Meloni and Prime Minister Starmer.

During the talks, the main commercial issues and matters related to import/export authorisations were discussed within the framework of the Border Target Operating Model, which will soon come into effect in the United Kingdom. Emphasising the strength of the UK-Italy partnership, Tripodi highlighted the strategic significance of the upcoming CEO Forum, scheduled to take place in London in 2025, to be chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Antonio Tajani alongside the UK Secretary of State for Business and Trade, Jonathan Reynolds.

In terms of foreign direct investment, the UK is a key market for Italian companies, as evidenced by investments from Pirelli, Ferrero, ENI, and Danieli, as well as new projects undertaken by NewLat, Marcegaglia, and Mapei. On the sidelines, the Undersecretary also visited the SIAL School, an Italian-English bilingual school, and the Italian Cultural Institute.