ITALY REPUBLIC DAY 2026: SALVATORE PARANO, Italian Trade Commissioner for Pakistan

It is with great pride that I extend my greetings to the readers of this special supplement, commemorating the Italian National Day.

June second, 2026, marks the 80th anniversary of the Italian Republic and we remember the choice made by our forefathers in 1946 when, as they were beginning to rebuild our nation, they voted for change in the name of republican ideals.

2026 is also an important milestone for the Italian Trade Agency, as we celebrate our first 100 years of supporting Italian businesses worldwide. ITA — officially known as Agenzia ICE— is indeed one of the oldest export promotion and trade development organizations in the world.

The Italian Trade Agency office has been operational in the Pakistani capital for three years. Together with our team based in Karachi, we have organized numerous qualified trade missions of Pakistani entrepreneurs to the main international trade fairs held in Italy.

The robust interest of local entrepreneurs, in the technological solutions proposed by Italian companies in the mechanical engineering sector, is evident in some of the country’s major chemical plants, textile factories, jewelry manufacturing industries, glass and ceramic plants, agro food industries, footwear and leather processing workshops.

Interest in Italy isn’t limited to technology, and it also extends to lifestyle. The rapid changes in the urban landscape of Pakistan’s major cities creates spaces for new shopping malls with leisure areas with cafes and restaurants offering expressos and cappuccinos and the iconic dishes of Italian culinary tradition.

Italy is a reliable economic partner for Pakistan. The robust bilateral trade surplus in favor of Pakistan and the substantial inflows of remittances from Pakistani citizens residing in our country are clear evidence of this. In 2025, bilateral trade surplus came in at $695 million against $591 million a year ago. The overall Pakistani exports to Italy stood at $1,237 million against exports of $1,077 million during July-June FY2024. Furthermore, Italian mechanical engineering companies contribute positively to the competitiveness and export diversification of Pakistani manufacturing sectors.

Home to the largest Pakistani diaspora in the European Union, Italy is one of the top sources of foreign remittances for Pakistan. In 2025, remittances from Pakistani workers in Italy exceeded 1.4 billion dollars.

We look forward to increased interaction between Italy and Pakistan in the years to come and for Italy to become major stakeholder in Pakistan’s industrial growth and development, not only in terms of technology provision but also in terms of quality standards for pharmaceutical products and FMCG and in which Italy has a worldwide reputation.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026