Here is the speech by the Consul General of Italy in Ho Chi Minh City, Alessandra Tognonato:
“Dear friends of Italy,
a hundred years anniversary is an extraordinary achievement.
But the true measure of an institution lies in the results it delivers.
In 2025 alone, the Italian Trade Agency:
- invested more than 200 million euros in promoting the internationalisation of Italian businesses
- and carried out over 900 promotional initiatives worldwide.
- it organised 234 national pavilions at trade fairs in 60 countries, involving more than 6,000 company participations,
- and brought over 11,000 international business operators to trade-fair events in Italy.
Behind these figures lies a strategic mission: helping Italian companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises, reach markets and seize opportunities that might otherwise remain beyond their grasp.
Over the past century, Italy has transformed itself into one of the world’s leading exporting economies. Today, exports account for around 32% of our GDP.
This achievement reflects above all the quality and determination of Italian businesses. But it also reflects the contribution of institutions such as the ITA, which help turn Italian excellence into international success.
This is why the Italian Trade Agency is one of the pillars of Italy’s foreign policy. Economic diplomacy means creating the conditions for our businesses to grow, strengthening our competitiveness and building lasting partnerships with countries around the world.
Here in Vietnam, a dynamic and increasingly important partner for Italy, this mission is particularly significant. The ITA office in Ho Chi Minh City plays an essential role in helping Italian companies understand the local market, identify opportunities and establish lasting business relationships. And its Director, Ms Ilaria Piccinni, with her amazing skills and commitment, makes all the difference!
As Consul General, I am sincerely grateful for the professionalism, dedication and expertise of the ITA team, and for the close cooperation between our institutions. Together, we work towards a shared objective: strengthening Italy’s economic presence in Vietnam and bringing our two business communities closer together.
A century after its foundation, the Agency’s mission remains as relevant as ever. My warmest congratulations to the Agency on this important milestone, and my sincere thanks to everyone who contributes to its work, in Italy and around the world.
Happy 100th anniversary to the Italian Trade Agency. Thank you.”
Here is the speech by the Director of ITA, Ilaria Piccinni:
“Dear Italian community, Dear Vietnamese friends, Dear friends of Italy,
Thank you all for joining us to celebrate this important milestone: the 100th anniversary of the Italian trade agency.
Everything began with an epic maritime expedition in 1924.
The Regia Nave Italia (Royal Ship Italia) set sail from La Spezia for Latin America, with an ambitious objective: to promote Made in Italy products overseas for the first time through a structured and innovative approach, the first floating trade fair in history!
From Fiat cars to Richard Ginori tableware, from Campari liquors to Olivetti typewriters, a microcosm of Italian manufacturing moors in many ports, facilitating the development of economic, political and cultural relations.
At the time, Italy was seeking stability. The First World War had left deep wounds, the lira was weak, and the trade balance was persistently in deficit. This floating exhibition was a first systematic effort to expand Italy’s commercial reach, highlighting the strategic need for a dedicated institution to help Italian businesses access international markets.
So in 1926, the National Institute for Exports was established by Royal Decree, eventually becoming the Italian Trade Agency we know today, with 69 offices and 18 satellite offices in 74 countries, covering directly and indirectly a total of 133 countries.
Since then, the Agency has accompanied Italy through extraordinary transformations: post-war reconstruction, the economic boom, the expansion of international trade and, more recently, the digital revolution.
Today, Italy has become the country we know, one of the world’s leading exporting nations.
Throughout these different periods, one principle has remained constant for the Italian Trade Agency: helping Italian companies turn their excellence into international opportunities. And our ambition is to continue supporting our italian companies to achieve this objective.
Celebrating the centenary of the Italian Trade Agency means not merely turning the pages of a long institutional history, but also tracing the path of economic courage, creativity and determination that have made Italy and its businesses a global export powerhouse.
And as we celebrate 100 years of the Italian Trade Agency, here in Vietnam we are also celebrating 35 years of activity of the office in HCMC— 35 years of building bridges between our two countries, fostering business opportunities, and strengthening the economic ties between Italy and Vietnam.
A journey that we are proud to continue, with the same spirit of collaboration and the ambition to build an even stronger partnership for the years to come.
[…]
To conclude, I would like to thank everyone present here today, in particular my team for their daily support and commitment to helping Italian companies succeed in the Vietnamese market.
I would also like to thank the Consul General and the entire Consulate team for their valuable collaboration and continued support of our activities.
Grazie a tutti, W l’ ICE”
