Protocol signed in Milan to strengthen the economic and trade skills of Italy’s diplomatic corps

Confindustria (The General Confederation of Italian Industry) and the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the sidelines of the Italian Conference on Export and Business Internationalization, launching a structured partnership focused on the economic and trade training of Italian diplomatic staff.

The initiative aims to enhance support for Italian companies in international markets by strengthening the economic and commercial expertise of diplomats and further promoting the global competitiveness of Made in Italy through a more effective and business-oriented economic diplomacy.

Under the Memorandum, a comprehensive training program will be developed, including:

• In-depth courses on specific countries and markets, tailored to diplomats’ assigned postings;

• Training sessions hosted by Confindustria’s network of industry associations, with direct involvement from the business community;

• Visits to production facilities, allowing participants to gain first-hand knowledge of Italy’s industrial supply chains and manufacturing excellence.

The program is designed for Heads of Mission, Consuls General, diplomatic officers with trade responsibilities, and staff assigned to foreign posts with a strong economic focus.

Through this agreement, Italy’s diplomatic corps will gain direct exposure to the country’s industrial ecosystem, with the goal of training officials who are not only representatives of the State, but true ambassadors of Italy’s productive excellence.

The initiative strengthens cooperation between institutions and the business community, turning Italy’s know-how into concrete opportunities for export growth and international development for the entire Country System.